The word of God tells us in 1 John 2:15-17, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” (Message)
What have you been saying you “love” lately? Think about it. We all fall into the trap of setting our “love” upon the things of the world and the worlds ways. The problem is, “the love of the world squeezes out the love for the Father.” Think that’s to extreme?
What you love, you’ll crave…want more of. Let’s take the love affair many have with chocolate. As soon as you tell yourself, “no more”, you’ll see every chocolate commercial every made! II’m speaking from experience here. But, you could replace chocolate with just about anything that you have allowed to squeeze it’s way into your heart.
When I spend more time thinking about chocolate than the things of God, there’s a problem. I know that’s a very simple example, but people do it everyday. They don’t think they are in a love affair but they have allowed their pursuit of wealth, acceptance, knowledge, relaxation, etc., to become the thing they set their attention and efforts and passion upon. They dream about it, do whatever is necessary to achieve it, make sacrifices for it. In doing all these things, it’s so easy to neglect your relationship with God.
God’s not seeking attention, He just wants us to keep our focus on the everlasting, eternal things that will change our life for the better. There’s nothing like walking in a real, living relationship with the most high God. Hearing Him speak to you on a daily basis and allowing Him to give you wisdom, peace, joy. It’s an amazing thing and the strength that comes from setting your affections on Him and His ways far surpasses any fleeting reward you may receive from the things of this world. Where’s your love today? Don’t let anything squeeze out your love for the Father! Amen!