– Scripture:
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 John 2:15–17 MSG
– Reflection:
Loving the World
On Monday, there was an eclipse of the sun, and I was driving to my kid’s school to pick them up. An important event like this is happening, and I am driving to a school to pick up my dudes. You see, the world has a way of choosing for us what is important and what is not. I, however, was on a more important mission, picking up my dudes. It is important to me to follow the path that Christ placed before me. The world has a path, but it doesn’t lead where I want to go. I want what our Lord Jesus Christ wants, and that is a community that doesn’t judge, fight, or kill one another. We should support one another in this community, allowing an uplift of aid when needed, and ask if the others are doing well within this community. The same way I didn’t let a world event crowd out what was important to me is the same way we can’t let God’s Kingdom fall.
Where do we go from here?
It can be so easy for us to stake our comfort and stability in the ways we live in the world. A job might provide the ability to meet basic needs and some “wants”. Seeking new sights or places can bring excitement. This passage is a reminder to not become dependent on our understanding of the world. The world changes over time as cultural priorities shift and needs vary, but God’s presence is the one constant we can rely on. We can appreciate the many gifts of God’s creation, but it’s important not to allow them to turn into idols. I wonder what other things “of the world” might distract us from centering our lives around God’s promises.
Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank you for your consistent love. Help us to enjoy your world in ways that are life-giving while staying grounded in you. Amen.