Who and What Do You Love?

1 John 2:15 “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.”

Dear Kids,

In recent years T-shirts with sayings on them have become a real craze. The wearer selects apparel with a goal of sending a message to others. You can tell something about the person by what they choose to say. But there is a more accurate way to evaluate the inner values of the message sender than the words emblazoned across their chest or back. This is discerned by the way they live on a daily basis.

Messages in a T-Shirt Medium

I am intrigued by some of the messages people send through the T-shirt medium. Some messages are in good taste. They may even share a word of encouragement such as a comforting Bible verse. On the other hand some of the quips are downright rude, telling those who approach them where to go or who’s the boss. Other sayings share information about the wearer like “I ‘heart’ my boyfriend” or “I ‘heart’ my cat.” This points to what the person believes they value most. But just because someone has a phrase printed on a T-shirt doesn’t mean the words are necessarily true. If a supposed cat lover kicks her cat every time it rubs against her leg, the action reveals the real heart of the matter.

Many people profess to love God. They may do all the “right” spiritual things such as attending church regularly, dropping money in the offering plate, and singing in the church choir. These individuals may even sport spiritual T-shirts, possibly even one that reads “I ‘heart’ Jesus.” But when it comes right down to it, the way they live their everyday lives will soon reveal their true heart love.

Do Not Love the World

John instructs his readers to consider long and hard about who and what they really love. He tells them, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” Of course, he is not saying that it is wrong to care for your boyfriend or your cat. He is talking about priorities within this world’s system. The world, run by Satan, doesn’t recognize God as supreme ruler and organizes all its passions – the desires of the flesh and the eyes and the pride of life – apart from God. Anything in our life that takes precedence over God and His purposes fits into these categories.

John goes on to say, “If anyone loves the world, then the love of the Father is not in him.” Those who make materialism, pleasure, beauty, or relationships apart from Christ their main goal in life show with whom they identify and what they truly love. When the world’s priorities rise to the forefront, then a person’s heart values become clear. And love of the Father and love of the world can’t coexist.

Live Your True Heart’s Passion

So have you thought about your own life? Maybe it’s time to evaluate where your priorities truly lie. Do not love the world or the things in the world because they quickly pass away. Instead, seek to do the will of God and give Him precedence in every area of your life. Then everyone you meet will be able to read your heart’s true passion . . . even on the days you aren’t wearing your “I ‘heart’ the Father” T-shirt.

Love,

Mama