Verse 15 reads,
“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.”
This statement doesn’t mean “Do not do good for the world” or “Do not love the world the way God loves them.” It means not to prefer the world, its people, its decoration and its stuff. It means not to choose the world over God or your fellow believers. If you would rather have what the world offers you, then you do not love the Father. Although God created the world, it is fallen and it is now broken and filled with sin. You can seek after sin and self-satisfaction or you can seek righteousness and the Kingdom of God. Verse 16 reads,
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
Choosing the world means you would rather look good to them than to God. You would rather gratify your flesh than please God. But Believer, when you seek God first and foremost, everything else, your needs and your desires fall into place and He meets them.
Matthew 6:31-33 reads,
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
And Psalm 37:1-6 reads,
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.”
If you are chasing after carnal pleasure, worldly needs, or the acceptance of the lost you are not chasing God and His Kingdom or will. God promised He’s got all that! He’ll take care of the worldly stuff and you are then free to pursue Him. You are at liberty to align your nature with His nature as a son of God. He’ll fulfil your desires. Your yearning will be for righteousness and virtue. Your longing will be to be like Jesus. And Jesus said He will satiate your hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Matthew 5:6).
The world isn’t going to last forever. God will eradicate sin. This present earth will burn up into oblivion. But you, Believer are promised eternal life. You are assured eternity. Verse 17 says it like this.
“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Revelation 21:1-5 describes eternity this way,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
This present life is short. Maybe it seems long now. Maybe your suffering seems like it is too much and will last forever. But the 90 years we have on earth is nothing, it is a moment in comparison to forever. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your heart on God. Seek Him. Pursue Love. Let God be your God. Rest in Him. Stay in His Righteousness.