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.

(1 John 2:15 ASV)

I like to think I don’t love the world. But when it comes down to specifics, there are some things in the world I do find attractive and pleasing: certain foods, books, songs, movies, TV shows, philosophies, … rollercoasters.

But Jesus presented an exclusive choice. I can either love the world, or I can love God. I can’t do both. I don’t even have the option of loving the world less than God. I am not to love the world at all. (I’m talking love here, not the mere use of the world’s things. We can’t isolate ourselves from the world. We have to be in the world, but not of it. …just as Jesus was.)

Of course, it’s easy to say “I love God and not the world”, but what do my actions show? What kinds of thoughts do I find pleasing? What motivates me? If I examine myself according to my thoughts and actions, will I find I love the Father or hate Him?