Note that "God so loved the world [its people]," but I'm talking about the evil world-system dominated and controlled by Satan and what it has to offer in competition with God, not a blessing of His, for all good things come from the Father.
Watchman Nee wrote a famous book Love Not the World, and he was right if you want to be spiritual and walk with Jesus if you do love the world, the love of Father is not in you! John said, "Love not the world, neither the things of the world," in 1 John 2;15 (this is a command, not advice or a suggestion!). What is he talking about? The big three: the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of life. The world, or should I say, Satan, has a lot to offer to compete with what God has to offer. Mainly, power, prestige, fame, fortune, entertainment, popularity, security, and many other things that a person may get (though not wrong in themselves, but can be misused). If you love money, you will never have enough and that goes for any idol too, if you love it, you won't have enough. When you've had too much of the devil's delicacies, you lose your appetite for the things of God! The mindset on the flesh is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life! (Cf. Rom. 8:6).
It's all right to watch TV, for example, if one has priorities (and one follows Paul's principles or standards laid down in Phil 4:8: "Whatever is true, noble, right...think on these things..." and doesn't let it rule or dominate his time or energy and become a god or what is really an idol, breaking the first of the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me!" If you don't feel in the mood to pray after watching too much TV, perhaps the devil has done his damage and won over your heart, which should belong to God--He wants you, and to be number one in your life--God is a jealous God and will tolerate no rivals. This doesn't mean other things don't have importance in your life, but that God is of first importance. That's why Paul says a soldier doesn't get involved in civilian affairs, because of a conflict of interest. The closer you walk with Jesus, the more perceptive you get to the devil trying to trip you up with what he has to offer and to get your attention--he knows your weaknesses too.
Now, let me make a point, that the more mature you get, the more responsible you are and God requires more of you. He doesn't expect a child to be as discerning as an adult. "Just a closer walk with Thee" should be our prayer. The goal, according to Richard of Chichester, is to "love Christ more dearly, to know Him more clearly, and to walk more nearly!" The more we feed our soul and spirit, the more sensitive it becomes--the nature that you feed (your carnal or your spiritual one) is the one that will dominate your thinking and behavior--the dog that gets fed the most usually wins the dogfight.
Sin is addicting as well as alienating and it enslaves just as it estranges. It is like smoking making people dislike you and you being addicted to something you cannot stop--nip it in the bud and you won't be tempted. It is far easier to resist the initial temptation to sin than all the consequences and results that follow suit when it spirals out of control. Don't let your habits become gods, but ask God to set you free--"If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). What do you think Jesus was talking about when he said people would "die in their sin?"
Just don't neglect feeding your spiritual self, because the consequences of neglect are severe and tragic. Note that "[God] who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim. 6:17) means there are blessings from God and every good gift comes from God (cf. James 1:17). Every day the battle starts all over and we must die daily and rededicate the day to Him--Live one day at a time, as it is written, "This is the day that the LORD has made, let us be glad and live today" (Ps. 118:24). Soli Deo Gloria!
Watchman Nee wrote a famous book Love Not the World, and he was right if you want to be spiritual and walk with Jesus if you do love the world, the love of Father is not in you! John said, "Love not the world, neither the things of the world," in 1 John 2;15 (this is a command, not advice or a suggestion!). What is he talking about? The big three: the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of life. The world, or should I say, Satan, has a lot to offer to compete with what God has to offer. Mainly, power, prestige, fame, fortune, entertainment, popularity, security, and many other things that a person may get (though not wrong in themselves, but can be misused). If you love money, you will never have enough and that goes for any idol too, if you love it, you won't have enough. When you've had too much of the devil's delicacies, you lose your appetite for the things of God! The mindset on the flesh is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life! (Cf. Rom. 8:6).
It's all right to watch TV, for example, if one has priorities (and one follows Paul's principles or standards laid down in Phil 4:8: "Whatever is true, noble, right...think on these things..." and doesn't let it rule or dominate his time or energy and become a god or what is really an idol, breaking the first of the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me!" If you don't feel in the mood to pray after watching too much TV, perhaps the devil has done his damage and won over your heart, which should belong to God--He wants you, and to be number one in your life--God is a jealous God and will tolerate no rivals. This doesn't mean other things don't have importance in your life, but that God is of first importance. That's why Paul says a soldier doesn't get involved in civilian affairs, because of a conflict of interest. The closer you walk with Jesus, the more perceptive you get to the devil trying to trip you up with what he has to offer and to get your attention--he knows your weaknesses too.
Now, let me make a point, that the more mature you get, the more responsible you are and God requires more of you. He doesn't expect a child to be as discerning as an adult. "Just a closer walk with Thee" should be our prayer. The goal, according to Richard of Chichester, is to "love Christ more dearly, to know Him more clearly, and to walk more nearly!" The more we feed our soul and spirit, the more sensitive it becomes--the nature that you feed (your carnal or your spiritual one) is the one that will dominate your thinking and behavior--the dog that gets fed the most usually wins the dogfight.
Sin is addicting as well as alienating and it enslaves just as it estranges. It is like smoking making people dislike you and you being addicted to something you cannot stop--nip it in the bud and you won't be tempted. It is far easier to resist the initial temptation to sin than all the consequences and results that follow suit when it spirals out of control. Don't let your habits become gods, but ask God to set you free--"If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). What do you think Jesus was talking about when he said people would "die in their sin?"
Just don't neglect feeding your spiritual self, because the consequences of neglect are severe and tragic. Note that "[God] who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim. 6:17) means there are blessings from God and every good gift comes from God (cf. James 1:17). Every day the battle starts all over and we must die daily and rededicate the day to Him--Live one day at a time, as it is written, "This is the day that the LORD has made, let us be glad and live today" (Ps. 118:24). Soli Deo Gloria!