Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16, TLV
Love God. Love Each Other. Seems ironic that John — the “love” disciple — wrote this verse. Is he saying don’t love the world? Not exactly. This chapter of John’s letter to the followers of the Messiah Jesus seems a bit more harsh than what John typically writes. Really what John is doing is setting priorities.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (vs. 4)
John is instructing his readers that a true commitment to knowing GOD will have fruits because we will follow our Redeemer — emulate Him to the best of our ability.
It boils down to the “greatest” commandment taken from the Torah: Love God. Love Each Other.
Yeshua [Jesus] answered, “The first is, ‘Shema Yisrael, ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love ADONAI your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31, TLV)
Did you catch that? Jesus identifies the great commandment as having two parts. First, love GOD with everything we have, then love our neighbor.
Our love for the world should emulate our Heavenly Father’s love for the world — His Son’s love for the world.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, TLV)
We are not conquerors or seekers of the world and the things the world offers. No, we are seekers of GOD and His truth and His direction. That’s how we interact with the world and the things of this world. When we first love God, then love each other, our perspective changes. That’s our goal each and every day, don’t you think?
