What does it mean to love the world?

[VerticalLiftEnjoyer]

It’s me again, and I’m wondering: what is the love of the world and earthly-mindedness?

I’ve always assumed it meant, don’t love anything on the world, at all, and today I’m reading “The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually-minded” and it seems to reinforce that point with this:

[2.] Again, the other part of our present duty, in compliance with the voice of providence, is a humble resignation of ourselves and all our concerns, to the will of God — setting loose our affections from all earthly, temporal enjoyments. Let us profess what we will, we neither do nor can do this, unless our thoughts are greatly exercised about the reasons and motives for doing it. For this is the way by which faith puts forth its efficacy to the mortification of self and all earthly enjoyments. That’s why, without this, we cannot resign ourselves to the will of God. But alas! how many at present openly walk contrary to God in this! The ways, the countenances, the discourses of men, evidence this. Their love for present things, their contrivances for their increase and continuance, grow and thrive under the calls of God to the contrary. So it was of old: “They ate, drank, married and were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark.” Can most professors at this day give testimony to the exercise of their thoughts upon those things which would dispose them to this holy resignation? Or that they meditate on the calls of God, and from there make themselves ready to part with it all, at His time and pleasure? How can persons pretend to be spiritually minded, whose current of thoughts lies in direct contrariety to the mind of God?

Edit: On second thought, does it instead mean that, though you enjoy these things, you don’t set your heart on them? Like a kid who has come to accept that his dad can put the toys into the closet when he wishes?

 

[alexanderjames]

Firstly, John explains what he means when he says "do not love the world" - and it's in this context we must proceed in our understanding.
"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."
1 John 2:15-16

 

[alexanderjames]

To clarify, my previous comment is not intended in a patronising way, simply to begin from first principles.

It therefore depends partly on how you define "love". And for today's general context, I don't think it's correct to say that to not love the world means don’t love anything on the world.

I do agree with your second view, that God calls us to live apart from an inordinate or abusive love of things on earth, which is sin and leads to further sin, when God's good gifts are detached from their proper use with relation to Him.

Example 1 - enjoying nature with thankfulness to God for His creation is good. But placing the basis for our happiness in the creation is sinful, whether that be through gross idolatry like bowing down to the moon and stars as gods, or whether it simply be more subtle idolatry of the heart.

This can be the case even with some of God's best gifts in this life, a spouse or children for example (c.f. Matthew 10:37).

 

[alexanderjames]

But in the quote, Owen (I am assuming this is John Owen) is speaking about a resignation of ourselves and everything to God. It's quite a common theme running through Puritan writings and also as I recall in those of missionaries like David Brainerd and Henry Martyn. It is the preeminent desire to detach oneself from all the cares of this world entirely with the aim to be wholly wrapped up in God alone, with an eye to His will alone. This is the place in which Christians are happiest and the goal is a high and noble one indeed.

 

[Afterthought]

From another author, who understood 'world' to mean the creation but also seemed to understand the phrase as a guard against sin rather than to be understood absolutely. Nevertheless, his practical points end up being the same as anyone's.

"A man who loves the world grows, little by little, to be a stranger to God and Christ. We cannot simultaneously have our eyes on both heaven and earth.... When men love the cistern, they leave the fountain. All creatures are but cisterns, and when our hearts run out to these, then we leave God, who is the fountain." (p. 21)

"We must use our gifts, our resources, and our relations so that we can give a good account to God. It will be said before long to every man and woman, 'You have had a spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters, health, strength, and the like. Come, give an account of your stewardship.' When we so use the things we have in this world that we can give a good and cheerful account to God, we have not abused the world but used it in the right way." (p. 36)

"The good in the creature is very, very little compared to spiritual good or the goodness of God. The good of the creature is very little, and so little that it cannot make us good. Rather it tends to further our corruptions and feed our lust...." (p. 37)

"We may love the world and the things thereof as a man loves the tools he uses to carry out his business. That is, we may love the world as it may further us in our chief business. As far as riches can be used to promote and further our spiritual interest in Christ--our peace, comfort, and graces--so far we may love the world....

We may love the world with a subordinate love to God, so long as it does not hinder our love for God. In this way we may love the good that is in the world and in the creature." (p. 37-38)

"How careful men and women are for purchases and good bargains, and what costs they bear for houses and land! What pains men take about these things.... Men will take pains and pay whatever it costs to insure their goods, but they take little pains and avoid the slightest cost associated with the eternal condition of their souls." (p. 45)

"Look well to your love, so that you take complacency in no creature whatsoever. Rather, love the Lord, taking complacency in God and Christ. You know that Christ said that 'thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind' (Luke 10:27). Now, if God has our all, what will the creature have?" (p. 70)

"Look well to your desires. Men are creatures of desire, crying, 'oh, that I had this or that....' We should not covet anything of the world. Instead, we should follow our callings and leave events to God. If God casts something before us, take it thankfully and use it well to His glory." (p. 70)

"If we would keep our hearts from loving the world, we must love God Himself more. The more our love for God grows, the more our hearts will be estranged from the world. In loving God more, we will view creation for what it is, and God as infinitely more valuable than the world and all that is in it.... Lusts corrupt the world, leaving it full of loathsomeness. But look on the beauties of God, for the excellencies of God are such as would ravish a man's soul and draw it up to Him." (p. 73)

"Stop Loving the World" -- William Greenhill, RHB edition.

 

[Polanus1561]

From another author, who understood 'world' to mean the creation but also seemed to understand the phrase as a guard against sin rather than to be understood absolutely. Nevertheless, his practical points end up being the same as anyone's.

"A man who loves the world grows, little by little, to be a stranger to God and Christ. We cannot simultaneously have our eyes on both heaven and earth.... When men love the cistern, they leave the fountain. All creatures are but cisterns, and when our hearts run out to these, then we leave God, who is the fountain." (p. 21)

"We must use our gifts, our resources, and our relations so that we can give a good account to God. It will be said before long to every man and woman, 'You have had a spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters, health, strength, and the like. Come, give an account of your stewardship.' When we so use the things we have in this world that we can give a good and cheerful account to God, we have not abused the world but used it in the right way." (p. 36)

"The good in the creature is very, very little compared to spiritual good or the goodness of God. The good of the creature is very little, and so little that it cannot make us good. Rather it tends to further our corruptions and feed our lust...." (p. 37)

"We may love the world and the things thereof as a man loves the tools he uses to carry out his business. That is, we may love the world as it may further us in our chief business. As far as riches can be used to promote and further our spiritual interest in Christ--our peace, comfort, and graces--so far we may love the world....

We may love the world with a subordinate love to God, so long as it does not hinder our love for God. In this way we may love the good that is in the world and in the creature." (p. 37-38)

"How careful men and women are for purchases and good bargains, and what costs they bear for houses and land! What pains men take about these things.... Men will take pains and pay whatever it costs to insure their goods, but they take little pains and avoid the slightest cost associated with the eternal condition of their souls." (p. 45)

"Look well to your love, so that you take complacency in no creature whatsoever. Rather, love the Lord, taking complacency in God and Christ. You know that Christ said that 'thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind' (Luke 10:27). Now, if God has our all, what will the creature have?" (p. 70)

"Look well to your desires. Men are creatures of desire, crying, 'oh, that I had this or that....' We should not covet anything of the world. Instead, we should follow our callings and leave events to God. If God casts something before us, take it thankfully and use it well to His glory." (p. 70)

"If we would keep our hearts from loving the world, we must love God Himself more. The more our love for God grows, the more our hearts will be estranged from the world. In loving God more, we will view creation for what it is, and God as infinitely more valuable than the world and all that is in it.... Lusts corrupt the world, leaving it full of loathsomeness. But look on the beauties of God, for the excellencies of God are such as would ravish a man's soul and draw it up to Him." (p. 73)

"Stop Loving the World" -- William Greenhill, RHB edition.

One of the most painfully revealing the heart books to read.

 

[Deleted member 13126]

This sermon from Dr. Peter Masters addresses this exact question. I would heartily commend it to you.

You may listen to it by clicking here.

There are also many articles which address these topics on the Metropolitan Tabernacle website, such as Guidance for Activities, Possessions and Leisure. The complete list of articles addressing the topic of worldliness may be found here.

God bless you.