“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
As I write this letter, the electricity authorities are currently outside working, and for safety reasons they have turned off the power to many of the houses in our street, including ours. When the power is off, or there is a backout, we all know that there are certain things that need to be prioritised. We need to be careful not to open the fridge too many times because perishables may be spoiled, and careful about how we use water because our water supply is powered by an electric pump.
In the times when we are deprived of the things that we take for granted, it isn’t hard for us to see what is most important. But while we live in relative wealth compared to the majority of the world, it can be easy for us to fall in love with God’s blessings, and to take God’s good gifts for granted. Every day we make thousands of decisions without even realising it. Every time we make a purchase, every time we prioritise our time and our energy, we are making decisions that will either enable us to focus on serving Christ, or to build our own kingdoms in this world.
However, keeping our eyes on Christ and living for Him is a constant challenge for all of us no matter what stage of life we are in; as we continue to live in a world in which we no longer belong, while we await for our true eternal home.
This is why Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 that believers should “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” rather than worrying about what we have or don’t have. And in the above verses John is saying something similar, as he urges believers to “do the will of God” – or in other words – to invest in serving Christ and living for His Kingdom.
There are so many things in our day to day lives that distract us from what God has done for us through Christ, and the hope that we have in Him. Therefore, being reminded of this, may we take time this week to pause and reflect on our priorities, and may God’s Spirit search our hearts and minds, so that our desires might align with those of Christ.
In Christ, Anthony
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