何謂貪愛世界？
約翰壹書二章12至17節
12小子們哪，我寫信給你們，因為你們的罪藉著主名得了赦免。
13父老啊，我寫信給你們，因為你們認識那從起初原有的。少年人哪，我寫信給你們，因為你們勝了那惡者。小子們哪，我曾寫信給你們，因為你們認識父。
14父老啊，我曾寫信給你們，因為你們認識那從起初原有的。少年人哪，我曾寫信給你們，因為你們剛強，神的道常存在你們心裡，你們也勝了那惡者。
15不要愛世界和世界上的事。人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裡面了。
16因為凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。
17這世界和其上的情慾都要過去，惟獨遵行神旨意的，是永遠常存。
信息分享
我們今天選讀的經文，就是其中一個「停止前進」的警告標記，它上面寫著：「不要愛世界和世界上的事。」我們若繼續在那條歧路上前進，就會變成「貪愛世界」。
然而，怎樣才叫做「愛世界」呢？有人列出一張清單，宣稱清單上的行為就是「愛世界」的表現，如此一來，作決定就很容易了。只要你查看清單，當遇到試探慫恿你做清單上的事時，你堅拒不做就行了。
但誰能夠羅列這張清單呢？某人可能不做清單上的任何事，卻仍以其他方式過著世俗的生活。
「愛世界」不能以清單、列表和電腦分析來界定。凡是在這個未得著基督救恩的世界裡，以自我中心的心態來生活，就是「愛世界」。當我容讓自己離開基督，這種心態就會控制我。
約翰特別叫我們小心提防三個陷阱：
1. 肉體的情慾：身體的慾望；
2. 眼目的情慾：渴望獲得和擁有、貪婪或錯誤的野心；
3. 驕傲：渴望得到他人的稱讚，藉此來榮耀自己。
我們要小心面對這三方面的欲望，並且察看自己是否已讓基督進入並管理我們人生的每一方面。
我們若渴望為基督而活，那麼世界的吸引力便會逐漸減退，我們將不會出現「愛世界」這個問題。
唱詩：當轉眼仰望耶穌
WORLDLINESS - WHAT IS IT?
1 John 2:12-17
12 I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For 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.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Message
Our reading today is one of those stop signs. “Do not love the world or anything in it.” To do so means we are travelling the wrong road and “worldliness” can describe our position.
But then how do you define “worldliness”? Some people draw up lists and declare that everything on their lists is worldly. This makes decisions very easy. You simply look at your list and if what you are tempted to do is on the list, then you shouldn't do it.
But who makes up the list? And a person may not be doing any of those things listed, yet may still be living like the world in other ways.
Worldliness cannot always be listed, tabulated or put on a computer. It is the self-centred spirit of an unregenerated and unsaved world outside of Christ. It takes over when I allow myself to be drawn away from Christ.
John lists three areas we need to watch out particularly:
1. Pleasure - the desires of the body, or the flesh.
2. Possessions - the desire to have and to gain; greed or wrong ambitions.
3. Pride - the desire for honour and praise from men.
We need to face up to these areas and ask ourselves if Christ Lord is in them and in all the areas of our lives.
If our only desire is to live for Christ, then the things of the world will fade away and the question of worldliness will be resolved for us.
A CHORUS TO SING TODAY: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.