Love not the World by John Matteson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1867

Love not the World.

By John Matteson

“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 ii, 15. From this language some have unjustly concluded that we must not desire or like anything on this earth. But in other places we are told to nourish our own bodies; to provide for our families; to labor with our hands that we may obtain some of the things in the world, &c. We may love every thing which God has made, for every creature that is lovely ought to be loved. Neither has the apostle left us in ignorance about the true meaning of this text.

“Love not the world.” The original word for “world” is κοσμος, which is, defined; order; the world; from the Heb., the present age of the world, as marked by imperfection and vice. In this last sense we believe the word is here used. We should not love this present imperfect age or state of the world, brought about by sin and the Devil. Satan is the prince of this world, and the curse is resting upon it. The kingdom of Jesus is not of this world, and our home is not here. We have no abiding city here, but look for one to come. We long for the world to come, where Jesus shall reign, and earnestly pray, “Thy kingdom come.”

In the very next verse the apostle tells positively what things in the world he has reference to. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” It is the sinful inclinations, carnal desires, and vain fashions of this world, which we are told not to follow after. We should not be governed by depraved appetites, useless and hurtful habits, or the corrupted manners and perverted judgment of the unconverted about us. We should stem the mighty torrent of sin, that sweeps this trifling and careless generation into the gulf of destruction. And our affections should be placed upon God. We should love and admire his lovely person, his holy and excellent character, his wonderful and mighty works.

The reason why we should not love the things in the world the apostle tells us is because it is not of the Father. This further proves that this is not spoken of the creation of God, such as he made it, but of the evils and corruptions brought about by sin. And it is but a reasonable conclusion that we may and ought to love that which is of the Father. We may love the fragrant flower, the happy bird, the innocent lamb, the sweet little babe, the obedient child. And we are even commanded to love our enemies. Yet this love is limited in proportion as the things in this world are more or less mingled with sin and imperfection. But on the things in the world to come we can freely place our unlimited affections. And the first commandment directs our love to the great and eternal Jehovah as the glorious center upon which our best and highest affections should be stayed. Then and only then can we love other beings and things aright.

We are of earth, earthy, wherefore we easily take too much interest in temporal things; but we cannot long, nor strive too earnestly, for the company of Jesus, redeemed saints and angels; for the eternal inheritance, the crown, the robe, the harp. And if we do this, dear reader, how precious this heart-cheering promise looks: “He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

JOHN MATTESON.