Carrying The World With Us

1Jn 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.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The passage from 1 John 2:15-17 in the King James Version of the Bible offers profound wisdom about the perils of worldly attachment1. It reads, "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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

This passage serves as a reminder of the transient nature of worldly possessions and pleasures. It encourages us to focus on the eternal love of the Father, rather than the fleeting desires of the world1.

Consider the anecdote of a man named John. John was a successful businessman who had amassed a great deal of wealth. He had a beautiful house, a luxurious car, and all the material possessions one could dream of. However, John was never content. He was always striving for more, trying to drag the world with him everywhere he went.

One day, John met an old friend, a monk, who had chosen a life of simplicity and spirituality over worldly pleasures. The monk lived in a small hut, owned nothing more than the clothes on his back, and spent his days in prayer and service. Yet, he radiated a sense of peace and contentment that John had never experienced.

John asked his friend how he could be so happy with so little. The monk replied, "John, the world is like a shadow. It appears solid, but it is fleeting. The more you try to grasp it, the more it slips away. True happiness comes from letting go of the world and embracing the love of the Father."

John's encounter with the monk led him to reflect on his life and the wisdom of 1 John 2:15-17. He realized that his relentless pursuit of worldly possessions had left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. Inspired by the monk's words, John decided to let go of his attachment to the world and focus on cultivating love for the Father.

Would you like to learn to let go of the world? It's a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, a path towards lasting peace and fulfillment. Remember, "he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."