By Tope Banso
Love the LORD, not the world
The Bible does not say we shouldn’t love the people of the world, but the corrupt or evil world system. God loves the people of the world, and you should.
The world could mean, among others, the universe, humanity, the society or the corrupt value system of the world, which is opposed to God. According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the “World may also denote the fleeting character of life’s riches and pleasures and the folly of making them of central importance in life.”
1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (Amplified Bible). The Greek word translated love in this scripture is agape (verb: agapao), which is the highest and purest form of love. It is not only unconditional love, it is the love of the will rather than of the emotions or love based on sentiments. Those who love the LORD don’t transfer the love meant for the LORD to the world.
Why should you not love the world? “For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever” (verses 16-17 New Living Translation).
You cannot love (agapao) the LORD and love (agapao) the world at the same time. You cannot serve two masters; you must love one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). James 4:3-5 warns, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (New King James Version).
According to Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (New King James Version). This is also stated in the New Testament (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).
If you love the LORD, you’ll have more thirst and hunger for Him, devoting yourself, especially to more private prayers and study of His Word. You’ll want more of God. Your heart will pant after God; nothing else will satisfy you. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and stand before him?” (Psalm 42:1-2 New Living Translation).
Many years after walking with the LORD, Paul cried, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11 New King James Version). A Christian who loves the LORD is never satisfied with his current spiritual position; he is not complacent. He makes every effort to continue to grow spiritually.
2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (New King James Version).
Part of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was that they would keep on growing in their knowledge and understanding so that they would understand what really mattered, thereby living pure and blameless lives until the return of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).
If you love the LORD, you’ll have deeper fellowship with Him and with fellow believers. The two kinds of fellowship are mentioned in 1 John 1:3. Hebrews 10:25 warns against forsaking assembling with fellow believers. If you love the LORD, you will also serve in the house of God, giving your time and other resources towards the advancement of His kingdom on the earth.
Furthermore, you’ll hold on tightly to the things of the LORD, but lightly to the things of this world. “Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away” (1 Corinthians 7:31 New Living Translation). You’ll acknowledge that you’re a stranger and pilgrim on earth, but a citizen of heaven; you’ll look forward to a better country that is heavenly (Hebrews 11:14-16; Philippians 3:20-21).
You’ll set your mind on heavenly things, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2-4). Also, in obedience to Matthew 6:19-21, you’ll not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth but in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You won’t run after worldly things and neglect the LORD, knowing that an end will come to everything one day – death or rapture – and ultimately, you’ll face eternity, either with God or in hell-fire. Hell-fire shall not be your final destination in Jesus’ name. Do you love the LORD or love the world?
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, help me to love You wholeheartedly; let me not love the world. As I come in frequent contact with the things of this world, I shall hold loosely to them, not tightly, in Jesus’ name.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
▪︎ Banso, an Abuja-based Minister, heads Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; on Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
