1 John 3:15-16

Along with James, 1 John is one of my favorite books. It's short, and it delivers important messages clearly and concisely. Verses 15 and 16 in chapter three describe the problem we face today--love of the physical pleasure of this world.

"Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world." (1 John 3:15-16 NLT)

Verse 17 goes on to explain the consequences:

"And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." (1 John 3:17 NLT)

These things of the world that we love so much, that we lust after, will not last. This includes not only physical possessions, but the lust of the flesh.

Is having physical possessions wrong? No.

If, for example, you have a fine car and a beautiful home, there is nothing wrong with that--as long as they do not rule your life. There is nothing inherently evil about cars or homes, or any other physical object. The problem isn't with the things, it's with what is happening in our heads.

It is the love of these things, to such a degree that we place them ahead of God, that is wrong.

It is lust, to such a degree that we disobey God, that is wrong.