I John 2:15-17 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. A few verses earlier the love of God was addressed. The gist was if one keeps the commandments, the love of God abides in Him. Today’s passage speaks of a competing love, the world. Worldly love revolves around lust and pride. These are base responses that good parenting seeks to drive out of kids. These are based on selfishness and self ambition. When I think of love of the world, I think of Lot’s wife. She did not want to leave Sodom. She had to be forced. Upon leaving, her heart longed to return. So much so, that she looked back and was ruined. Her heart was there. Even though the city was being destroyed, she longed for it. Today’s passage says the world is passing away. Yet, our carnal desires still crave it. The love of the world wants immediate gratification. There is no patience attached to it. Lot’s wife couldn’t bear not looking. We all have these immediate drives. We usually need to tame them. Walking with Christ does that. We don’t always get what we want. The Lord helps us lay aside our ambitions to focus on others. Parenthood is great for that. When one raises children, there are the immediate needs that the child cries out to have met. But the better parent understands life stages and know what the child is going through and will need. These are things the child may not be aware of. But the parent who is a student of the child is seeking to be an expert. Some parents are pride based. They want child performance for their own ego. The love of God revolves around the two commandmnents, loving God and others. Selfish pursuits are things that are put on hold for the needs of others. Parents know what this is like. They may be involved in a task, but when the baby cries, they pause everything for the child. Submitting to God’s lordship is similar. All throughout our day we are to be open to the needs of others. This doesn’t mean our needs aren’t important. God wants us to be secure in His love for us. In a miraculous way, as we give to others God floods to us. Lord, help us to love You and not the world.