Anchor Scripture: 1
John 2: 15: Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him.
Introduction
The anchor scripture above
enjoins you to not love the world. Can you turn to John 3: 16? “For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If God “loved” the world, why has he
instructed us to “love not the world”? The love that God had for the world was
a love of mercy, not a love of agreement with the sinful ways of the world. And
he demonstrated it by giving his only begotten Son to do something about the
sinfulness of the world—to choose and save some out of the world (Acts 2:
38-40; 3: 19) . God does not want us to make the world system the compass of
our life. Only God’s word should be the final authority in all matters in your
life.
TEXT: 1 John 2: 15-17
1.
What does the love of the world
do to us (1 John 2: 15)? ----------------------------------------------------
2.
Explain what loving the world
means
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3.
List the three groups of things
in the world that God forbids us to love (1 John 2: 16) ---------------
4.
Discuss each of the following: the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes;
and the pride of life.
5.
How must we use the things of
this world (1 Corinthians 7: 31)? ------------------------------------------
6.
Read 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31:
Discuss how you are required by God to respond to both seeming misfortune and
good fortune in this life? --------------------------------------------------
Why is this attitude to life required of you?
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7.
Discuss what you have learned
about this present evil world in Lessons One to Four.
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CONCLUSION: It is evident that
loving the world destroys the love for God (His word) from our heart. A man or
woman who desires to be a friend of the world, who desires the gifts, glories,
and possessions of the world, who longs for the exaltation, praise and
commendation of the world, and who hankers after the pleasures of this world,
will compromise godly principles and values, worship at the shrine of Satan, and
fall into many foolish and harmful lusts and temptations. Your thoughts reveal
information about your eventual eternal destination. Guard your heart, and
refuse to allow evil thoughts to lodge therein. But meditate on whatever is
true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praise worthy.
Remember this: Whatever ambitions you may have—political, academic, and
business—shall pass away. This world system passes away. But those who do the will
of God shall live forever in eternal comfort and glory. Do you do the will of God? Don’t be foolish,
but understand what God’s will is from His word, and do it, for “Not all that
call me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of God, but those that do God’s
will,” says Jesus Christ.
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