The world is not a good lover

I. Introduction

The Story of Scrooge

II. Do not love the world (v. 15)

Romans 1:20–25 “20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Col 4:7-18.

Demas v.14

2 Timothy 4:10 “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”

III. The world is made up of sin (v. 16)

Genesis 3:6 “6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Lust of the flesh (appeals to our desires)

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John The World Cannot Give You What It Promises (1 John 2:16)

we are not sinful because we sin. Instead, we sin because we are sinful

Lust of the eyes (appeals to our affections)

Matthew 5:27–29 “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

David’s eyes

Boastful pride of life (appeals to our ambitions)

There is within the human heart a tough, fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets “things” with a deep and fierce passion. The pronouns “my” and “mine” look innocent enough in print, but their constant and universal use is significant. They express the real nature of the old Adamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do. They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution. (The Pursuit of God, 22)

- A.W. Tozier

1 Timothy 6:10 “10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Matthew 6:24 “24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Jesus’ Example

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John The World Cannot Give You What It Promises (1 John 2:16)

He was a carpenter’s son (Matt 13:55), a poor family’s child (Luke 2:24; see Lev 12:8). Concerning pride in possessions, He said, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matt 8:20). Concerning pride in pedigree, it was said of Him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Concerning pride in people, it was said of Him, “[He is] a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt 11:19). Concerning pride in intellect, He said, “As the Father taught Me, I say these things” (John 8:28). Concerning pride in self-will, He said, “If You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

IV. The world is temporary (v. 17)

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 “17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Matthew 10:39 “39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

V. Conclusion - Joy

Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:3 “3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.””

Luke 4:5 “5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.”

Luke 4:9–10 “9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’”

John 15:1-11.

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