John does not leave us with bare commands. God is under no obligation to tell us why we must do a thing, of course. But he often does. Here it is so – and again the reasoning is very simple. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. Look at any aspect of worldliness and you will see that it is diametrically opposed to what the Father desires for us.
Think of the cravings of sinful man this constant desire to fulfil one’s appetite for food or sex or contentment. Does that come from the Father? It's true that God gave man certain appetites from the beginning but was it ever his intention that man should live for those things? You only have to remember what happened to Jesus in the desert when he was tempted to see that can't be so.
Remember the first temptation – for this hungry man to turn stones into bread to feed himself.
And what did Jesus say – quoting Deuteronomy he said, Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Life is more than clothing and food. There are higher things –things that come from God to set our hearts on.
Or think of the temptation to jump from the highest point of the Temple. Oh how grand it would have looked. How impressed everyone would be to see the angels saving Jesus from certain death. But to test God in such a way – that would not be from him would it?
And then that final temptation – to gain all the glory and honour that this world has to offer. Was that from the Father? Not at all. Rather he wants us to worship him and him alone. He will not share his glory with another.
Think of yourself on duty at a crossroads. It is your duty to let everything from one direction through but nothing coming from the other direction. That's how the Christian is to be – he is always to say ‘no’ to the world and always ‘yes’ to God the Father. There can be no compromise. What comes from the world is opposed to God. It is the very opposite of what God the Father gives.
4. What other reason does John give for saying ‘no’ to the world?
Think of the cravings of sinful man this constant desire to fulfil one’s appetite for food or sex or contentment. Does that come from the Father? It's true that God gave man certain appetites from the beginning but was it ever his intention that man should live for those things? You only have to remember what happened to Jesus in the desert when he was tempted to see that can't be so.
Remember the first temptation – for this hungry man to turn stones into bread to feed himself.
And what did Jesus say – quoting Deuteronomy he said, Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Life is more than clothing and food. There are higher things –things that come from God to set our hearts on.Or think of the temptation to jump from the highest point of the Temple. Oh how grand it would have looked. How impressed everyone would be to see the angels saving Jesus from certain death. But to test God in such a way – that would not be from him would it?And then that final temptation – to gain all the glory and honour that this world has to offer. Was that from the Father? Not at all. Rather he wants us to worship him and him alone. He will not share his glory with another.
Think of yourself on duty at a crossroads. It is your duty to let everything from one direction through but nothing coming from the other direction. That's how the Christian is to be – he is always to say ‘no’ to the world and always ‘yes’ to God the Father. There can be no compromise. What comes from the world is opposed to God. It is the very opposite of what God the Father gives.
4. What other reason does John give for saying ‘no’ to the world?
One more crucial argument against worldliness is given in 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. The very argument for self-preservation should be enough for us. It’s like a man confronted by two bottles of potion. One is a poison. If he drinks it he will poison himself and risk death. The other is an elixir of life. Drink it and you will live forever. The world’s desires will not last. They get very excited about their food and drink and all their friendship and bonhomie. None of it's going to last forever. It will all soon pass. This is the very opposite of non-worldliness, which is doing the will of God. Those who do the will of God live forever. Live like that then.
More practically. What about some of the vexed questions on this subject? Start with cars, TVs, computers, ties and buttons, all of which some think are worldly. These can't be worldly in and of themselves. It's the way we use things that is either worldly or God honouring. So what about going to the cinema, pub, disco, nightclub, rock concert or playhouse, ballet, opera for that matter? Again, a place can't be worldly in and of itself, however in those examples they are worldly places in the sense that what goes on in them revolves around gratifying the cravings of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. A Christian has to think twice before going to such a place, therefore. What affect is this going to have on me? Certainly a regular diet of such things can't be any good for anyone. As for drinking alcohol, smoking, listening to music, dancing, reading books, wearing make-up, jewellery, etc, surely I chiefly need to keep a watch on myself and make sure I'm not being lured into a love for the world. Remember that Spurgeon anecdote on smoking where Spurgeon gives up his cigars when challenged by his servant George. George, however, finds going without his pipe much more difficult.
It's good to test ourselves from time to time just to be sure that we are not falling into the world's clutches. Be careful, of course, that any success doesn't go to your head and you start boasting. Above everything concentrate on doing the will of God because that's the one who will live forever.
More practically. What about some of the vexed questions on this subject? Start with cars, TVs, computers, ties and buttons, all of which some think are worldly. These can't be worldly in and of themselves. It's the way we use things that is either worldly or God honouring. So what about going to the cinema, pub, disco, nightclub, rock concert or playhouse, ballet, opera for that matter? Again, a place can't be worldly in and of itself, however in those examples they are worldly places in the sense that what goes on in them revolves around gratifying the cravings of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. A Christian has to think twice before going to such a place, therefore. What affect is this going to have on me? Certainly a regular diet of such things can't be any good for anyone. As for drinking alcohol, smoking, listening to music, dancing, reading books, wearing make-up, jewellery, etc, surely I chiefly need to keep a watch on myself and make sure I'm not being lured into a love for the world. Remember that Spurgeon anecdote on smoking where Spurgeon gives up his cigars when challenged by his servant George. George, however, finds going without his pipe much more difficult.It's good to test ourselves from time to time just to be sure that we are not falling into the world's clutches. Be careful, of course, that any success doesn't go to your head and you start boasting. Above everything concentrate on doing the will of God because that's the one who will live forever.
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