Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

              But I love the world. I love pedaling my bike down a lonely country road. I love walking in the woods or climbing a mountain. I love spending time with family and friends, sharing a beverage and discussing life. Surely there are things in the world you love, too, right?

              Fortunately, those aren’t the things the writer of 1 John had in mind when they caution us against “the things in the world.” These worldly things we need to avoid are excessive desires and pride and riches. They are things that are opposed to the values of God, the values of compassion and love that we find repeated in the scriptures.

              Just as Jesus warned us, “You cannot serve both God and wealth,” 1 John wants us to set our priorities. Which set of values will power our lives and guide our thinking? Will it be those worldly values of money, power, and fame? Or will it be God’s values of love, mercy, and grace? The one will choose will naturally overpower the other, so it’s important that we choose wisely.

              The next time you are doing something you love in the world, think about the ways you can make God’s love a priority and how we can remake the world into a place that everyone can love.