How To Love The Father More Than The World

How to Love the Father More than the World

Marks of Worldliness (I John 2:15-18)

What are the various ways that people subtly love the world more than we show love for our heavenly Father? Perhaps it could be summarized in the word preoccupation.

Illustration: CHARLOTTE, N.C. - An 86-year-old woman was jailed after police said she called 911 dispatchers 20 times in a little more than a half-hour — all to complain that a pizza parlor wouldn’t deliver.

Dorothy Densmore was charged with misusing the 911 system, a jail spokeswoman said.

She told dispatchers Sunday that a local pizza shop refused to deliver a pie to her south Charlotte apartment, said Officer Mandy Giannini. She also complained that someone at the shop called her a "crazy old coot," Giannini said.

Densmore wanted them arrested. Instead, police came to arrest her, and she resisted, Giannini said.

It’s unusual for someone to face charges for nonemergency calls, Giannini said. But on Sunday, Densmore kept calling 911, even after she was told to stop, Giannini said.

When an officer arrived at her apartment, the 5-foot-tall, 98-pound woman attacked him, Giannini said. Densmore scratched him, kicked and bit his hand, she said.

Densmore also is charged with resisting a public officer and two counts of misusing the 911 system, jail records show. Reuters news (5/24/05)

Many of us are frankly too preoccupied with earthly concerns. Americans are busy people. We like to stay active but are tempted to get preoccupied with things that distract us from Christ and His kingdom priorities. Good things often become enemies of the what is best. We preoccupy our minds with projects so there is little room left over for what is our highest priority - that of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Jesus said, "The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God, yet many of our just too preoccupied with other things. Paul wrote, "Set your thoughts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Col. 3:1-3)

Quotation:

If you here stop, and ask yourselves, why you are not as pious as the primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you, that it is neither through ignorance nor through inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it.

... William Law (1686-1761), A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, c. II [1728]

Meditation:

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

-- Romans 7:14-17 (KJV)

The following is a list of some of things that often crowd out our love for the Father. Since Jesus told us to watch and pray that we enter not in to temptation. It is a good idea to know what we are to watch out for when it comes to the things that tempt us most to deviate from our highest objective.

1. Pressures – Too many people give in to the pressures from without and within to conform to this world. Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:2)We allow ourselves to be pressured to look, act or do things that are pleasing to those who we value the most. Giving in to these pressures often results in sacrificing God’s will for our own.

Illustration: I will not remember your sins. --Isaiah 43:25

The ice of winter had barely melted off a nearby lake when a 7-year-old Michigan boy decided to do some boating. His craft was half of an oil drum he found along the shore, and his oar was a battered snow shovel. The boy’s makeshift paddle worked so well that he got to the middle of the lake, but then the drum began to take on water. Fortunately, neighbors heard his cries for help, and he was rescued just in time. Once more, a youngster learned the hazards of a "boys will be boys" experience.

Similarly, Isaiah 43 describes the dangers of a "men will be men" situation. Speaking to Israel, God told them that He alone could save them from their spiritual foolishness (vv.21-24). He reminded Israel that they had gone their own way. Like immature children, they lacked foresight. Yet, the Lord was quick to assure them that if they would remember Him and plead their case, He would blot out their transgressions, and they could be rescued (vv.25-26).