Do Not Love the World

For my own sake, I really shouldn’t spend much time on Twitter (X). That’s why my phone is set to limit out at 30 minutes a day, but recently I was lurking on Twitter. And I had a revelation. 

I saw a post where someone was verbally destroying an opponent. Articulate, rabid, ruthless, and on point. And lots of people were jumping on the dogpile. 

The revelation was that I found myself resonating with this opponent getting his comeuppance; resonating with what could only be described as malicious, insolent, haughty, and heartless behavior; ungodly behavior that is totally acceptable—in fact, esteemed—in our culture. 

I was resonating with worldliness. David Wells defines worldliness “as everything in culture that makes sinning look normal and righteousness look odd.” It is trading sola scriptura for sola cultura; desiring, approving of, flirting with, or delighting in behavior that is grounded in our sinful nature (Rom 1.28–32).  

Maybe you’ve experienced this too. Perhaps you are drawn to a suggestive influencer, even though covetousness is core to her appeal; or you find vindication through a friend who is an unrelenting gossip; or satisfaction through a personality who is unapologetically malicious “for the sake of truth.”

Friends, that’s worldliness: reversion to a system of values that is grounded in the fall—where sin looks normal and righteousness seems strange.

Paul tells us that love is the exact opposite of that. Love is patient and kind; it does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude; it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:4–7). 

And so, this morning we must ask ourselves, where is there worldliness in us? Are we allowing culture rather than Scripture to shape what we desire or approve? Hear then, this morning’s exhortation in the words of the apostle John:

“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.” (1 John 2:15)

This reminds us of our need to pray: 

Prayer of Confession

Our Father, you alone are worthy of our deepest affection. Yet we confess we often allow the world and its ways to displace our love for you and your ways. We tacitly approve of wrongdoing; sometimes, we even rejoice in it. Search us and know us, O God. Try us and know our thoughts. Remind us of the righteousness that is ours in our Savior Christ Jesus as we confess our sins to you in this moment of silence.