“Do not love the world or the things of the world, for if anyone loves the world, love of the Father is not in him. For all that is of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are not of the Father but are of the world, and the world is passing away and its lusts with it. But those who do the will of the Father abide forever.”

I am sure that most Christians would say that they do not love the world, yet so many of us seem to be so willing to accept the world’s wisdom in very important areas of our lives, especially those in relation to marriage, child rearing and discipline, and concern for our future security.

The world’s ideas and values in those areas are so completely different to those laid down by God for his people, and the results of following those values is clearly in evidence all around us. Marriage breakdowns at an unprecedented rate; children in total confusion, without security or direction because of our very selfish life styles! Plus a sense of fear and foreboding about our financial security mainly because of heavy financial commitments for things we are told we deserve to have in order to find fulfillment, but which so often turn out to be nothing more than an illusion of contentment.

We seem to have forgotten what the word of God has told us in 1John2:15-17 as we have seen above, and we seem to have forgotten the words of Jesus to us in Matt 6:19-20, “Do not store up treasures for yourselves here on earth where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. But instead store up treasures for yourselves in heaven where moth and rust do not consume, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” This has, in turn, led us to be unaware of the true reality of Matt 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If the above describes us, how desperately we need to turn back to our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and begin again to walk with him in complete trust and obedience.