1 John 2:15 - A rose is a rose

"Do not love the world or anything in the world."

Why?  Because love of the world is idol worship.  Plain and simple. I think there's a commandment about that somewhere in the Bible.   Yikes!!!  Aren't you going a bit overboard here, girl?  I mean, really, isn't that taking things just a little bit too far?  Well, let's just call a spade a spade.  You can't hide what it is by calling it a coal shovel.  A rose by any other name is still a rose.  If you love the world, you are an idol worshiper.

Just what, exactly,  IS love of the world?  Love is defined as "having a profoundly tender, passionate affection toward" .  Now, love of the world or anything in it may not be "tender", but it can most certainly be "passionate".   In other words, to love the world is to be passionate about anything that is not of God and takes time away from God.  There are myriad things that we are passionate about:  sports; antique collecting; latest fashions; fake nails; car shows; paintings; reading; eating; TV; yard work; our occupation; our family; computers; traveling; cleanliness; cars; social events; beauty treatments; youthful appearance; prestige; bank account; and the list goes on and on and on and ON.  You get the picture.   It's where all your spare, and sometimes not-so-spare time and energy is concentrated and time with God is excluded.  It's where your heart is.

Even things of God can become idols.  Oh yes, Satan can and does use our godly work against us.  We can get so involved in "ministry" that we don't have time to spend alone with the Lord.  Yes, it's true.  We can become so busy building up committees & groups; setting agendas; being in control of church organizations; running this program and that program that we don't have "me time" with our Lord.  Our families suffer.  We can become so tired and run down that sometimes we actually collapse.  This is absolutely not what God intended.

Here's an exercise for you to do to see where you are spiritually in this matter.   Sit back, relax, and take a mental inventory of your possessions and works.  Look everywhere in the house, the yard, garage, at church, your social life, your family.  Be honest or it won't work. See everything?  Now, someone comes to you and asks for one of your possessions, or asks you to step down from something in the church, or socially, or whatever.  Can you instantly, without a thought, give it up?  If anything other then 'yes' entered your mind, there's a problem and you need to address it. 

"If you own something that someone else desires and you cannot give it up, you do not own it, it owns you!" 

And that, my blessed Saint, is love of the world.  So now, the question is:  who and/or what owns you? 

"Lord Jesus, King of heaven and earth, creator of all things, forgive me for the lust I feel for earthly things.  My heart is so deceitful, my eyes have been blinded to the truth.  Cleanse my heart, O God, and place a right spirit within me.  Help me to appreciate, but not be bound to, the things of earth.  You, O Lord, are my heart's desire, I don't want anything to replace you.  Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, I ask in the Name of Jesus.  Amen."

Supporting Scriptures:

Exodus 20:3
1 Chronicles 16:26
Psalm 96:5
           106:36
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 6:P16
Ephesians 2:19
2 Thessalonians 3:5