Don’t Love the World

Ever seen a banana trap?
If you make a cage with a small opening in the side, and put a banana inside so the monkey can see it. The monkey will grab the banana, but then they won’t be able to get their hand back out unless they let go of the banana. And there is no way they will let go of that banana! So you can just walk up and catch the monkey because they would rather get caught than let go of that delicious looking banana.
But we’re exactly the same. We see people with nice houses, cool cars, even the latest iPhone. We see people with adorable designer puppies, going on holidays and cruises, eating out in fancy restaurants, or even retiring at 50. And our reaction?
We want it. We need it. We will do whatever it takes to get that too.
We want the good life. We want to not work, but to have all the stuff. We deserve it. It’s our right.

But Johannes wrote:
Don’t love the world, nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the father isn’t in them. Because everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pretentiousness of life, isn’t from the father but from the world.
We are 100% the same as that monkey. We would rather be trapped by our sinful desires than let go of that stuff.

Adam and Eve fell into the same trap. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too.
She desired the taste of that fruit, (Johannes called it “the desire of the flesh”), it was a delight to her eyes, (“the desire of the eyes”), and she thought it would make her wise, (“the pretentiousness of life”, thinking this is what is going to make my life better, make me look better in front of others. It’s just pride really).

How about you? What are you desiring? Why? What do you think it’s going to give you?
If it’s something of the world, then you’re wrong. It’s not going to give you that. It’s going to trap you. It’s a banana.

Let go of the stuff. It will be liberating. Let go of satisfying your eyes, or your flesh, or your pride.
Satisfy your spirit. Desire the things of God. Desire to grow in real wisdom, in love and service to others, in faith. Grow in character, not just in stuff. You’ve got enough bananas already.


	Don’t Love the World
READING 1 John 2 Genesis 3 John 5 Everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pretentiousness of life, isn’t from the father…	Ever seen a banana trap? If you make a cage with a small opening in the side, and put a banana inside so the monkey can see it. The monkey will grab the banana, but then they won’t be able to get their hand back out unless they let go of the banana. And there is no way they will let go of that banana! So you can just walk up and catch the monkey because they would rather get caught than let go of that delicious looking banana. But we’re exactly the same. We see people with nice houses, cool cars, even the latest iPhone. We see people with adorable designer puppies, going on holidays and cruises, eating out in fancy restaurants, or even retiring at 50. And our reaction? We want it. We need it. We will do whatever it takes to get that too. We want the good life. We want to not work, but to have all the stuff. We deserve it. It’s our right. But Johannes wrote: Don’t love the world, nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the father isn’t in them. Because everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pretentiousness of life, isn’t from the father but from the world. We are 100% the same as that monkey. We would rather be trapped by our sinful desires than let go of that stuff. Adam and Eve fell into the same trap. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. She desired the taste of that fruit, (Johannes called it “the desire of the flesh”), it was a delight to her eyes, (“the desire of the eyes”), and she thought it would make her wise, (“the pretentiousness of life”, thinking this is what is going to make my life better, make me look better in front of others. It’s just pride really). How about you? What are you desiring? Why? What do you think it’s going to give you? If it’s something of the world, then you’re wrong. It’s not going to give you that. It’s going to trap you. It’s a banana. Let go of the stuff. It will be liberating. Let go of satisfying your eyes, or your flesh, or your pride. Satisfy your spirit. Desire the things of God. Desire to grow in real wisdom, in love and service to others, in faith. Grow in character, not just in stuff. You’ve got enough bananas already.