But the one who does the will of God lives forever…

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. For 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. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. —1 John 2:15-17

In our studies since the fall we have examined the Beatitudes together. We have been challenged concerning our responsibility to know the Scriptures in order to be able to answer the questions our families may have. The Proverbs have called us to have courage, to fear God, to be discerning, to listen well, to invest in heavenly treasure, to love a rebuke. All these studies are different facets of one great common theme—if we are God’s men we must not love the world, its ways, and its things. What we have studied together is not compatible with loving the world.

This week’s passage in 1 John tells us that the things connected with this world are not worthy of our love, our affection, our longings. The world is passing away. The deceptive plan of the evil one is to entice us to love things whose value is literally a fleeting shadow. The world promises much but delivers only bitter fruit. The things in the world do not bring any lasting satisfaction, only craving for more of those same things.

Certainly none of us wants to see our families pursue the futile desires of this world. We don’t want to see our children say, in the words of Proverbs 5:14, that they have come to the brink of ruin. But are we prepared to lead by example as well as by word and intent? All of the good things we have learned in the men’s ministry will come to naught if our affections are set on the world and things in that world. John is clear: do not love the world. He then identifies three things that distinguish the love of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.

John is telling us that the things we crave for human satisfaction—things that our eyes are attracted to, worldly things that we long for, and finally, accomplishments that only the world will recognize—take us away from doing the will of the Father. These things cause us to be poor examples to our wives and children. Men, do you have things in one of these three categories that you will not give up? Perhaps they are secret things that you believe only you know about. If there are such things that you will not give up, you are not only heading in the wrong direction yourself, but you are also setting a bad example for your children. Ephesians 4:17-19 teaches that this pursuit will never satisfy, but only lead to lusts that can never be satisfied. The opposite pursuit is to do the will of the Father, which leads to eternal life.

This week as you look at our passage, ask God to help you see where you have a love for the world. God offers us a rich reward for turning from the world. If we pursue his will, revealed in Scripture, we will live forever. No, this is not something we earn. Living forever is the gift of God. However, we can choose not to live for this world, but instead, pursue with courage the will of God. Men, this is a great gift to give to your children, to your grandchildren, to your wife, and to all those whom you love most dearly.

• What activities in your life reveal a love for the world?
• What can you do today to turn away (repent) from this and do the will of God instead?