What does it mean not to love the world and what is in the world? How can we live in this world and not be part of it? Sounds strange and even difficult not to be in this world.
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but the one doing the desire of Elohim remains forever.
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim? Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim.
By "the world" is meant the ways of the world, its passions, pleasures and pursuits.
For all that is in the world. This sinful world is comprehended under three heads.
The lust of the flesh. The desires which spring from the appetites and passions.
The lust of the eyes. The desires that are aroused by appeals made to our eyes.
The pride of life. The vein glory of the world; it’s foolish display. Sensuality, avarice and pride, nearly, but not quite, illustrate what is meant.
The meaning is, that we are not to fix our affections on worldly objects - on what the world can furnish - as our portion, with the spirit with which they do who live only for this world, regardless of the life to come. We are not to make this world the object of our chief affection; we are not to be influenced by the maxims and feelings which prevail among those who do.
John does not say that we are in no sense to love “anything” that is in the material world; that we are to feel no interest in flowers, and streams, and forests, and fountains; that we are to have no admiration for what Yahuah has done as the Creator of all things; that we are to cherish no love for any of the inhabitants of the world, our friends and kindred; or that we are to pursue none of the objects of this life in making provision for our families; but that we are not to love the things which are sought merely to pamper the appetite, to please the eye, or to promote pride in living. These are the objects sought by the people of the world; these are not the objects to be sought by the believers.
And the world passes away.
The believer doing the desire of Elohim remains forever.
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