What does it mean that we’re not to love the world?
Here's the answer:
It means not to love the sinful practices of the world.
The Bible tells us we should not love the world (1 John 2:15-16). When the Bible refers to the world, it is referring to the bad things people do—not the physical earth. God loves the people of the world, but He doesn’t love people’s sinful actions.
Satan is the ruler of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan encourages people to do bad things like lie, be mean, and hate. God does not want us to live in sin. He wants us to be kind, loving, and caring.
Loving the world causes you to place the world first and God second. As Christians, God should always be our number one priority. We cannot love God and the world at the same time. God wants us to choose Him—not the world. The world is temporary, but God is forever.
Bible Truth
"Do not love the world or anything in it. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. Here is what people who belong to this world do. They try to satisfy what their sinful desires want to do. They long for what their sinful eyes look at. They take pride in what they have and what they do. All of this comes from the world. None of it comes from the Father" (1 John 2:15-16).
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you" (John 15:19).
"But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you" (Matthew 6:33).
