What I get from this is the principle that our devotion and love is not meant to be both for the world and for God. Matthew 6:24 is where Jesus said that we cannot love both God and money. He doesn't want our devotion to be divided because the world is hostile to the things of God and they are polar opposites. We have to chose.
When John talks about the lusts (epithymia-the cravings, longing, desire) of the eye and the flesh and the pride (alazoneia-empty, braggart talk) of life he is talking about the main ways that man usually sins when our devotions run after the things of this world and the cravings of the flesh. These things are passing away.
Jesus told his disciples that they were not of this world John 15:19. He also said that his kingdom is not of this world John 18:36. We are to be not conforming our minds to the world, but renewing our minds with the word of God Romans 12:2. Paul stated that he was crucified to the world and it to him Gal 6:14. And we are also to be dead to it. We use the things of this world such as food, clothing, cars and houses, but it isn't were our first devotion is. James 1;27 said that part of true religion is to keep oneself from being polluted by this world. If we are polluted by the worries and riches of this world we will be like the rich young ruler of no use to Jesus until we give those things up and don't have an undivided heart any longer.
We must remember what it says in James 4:4 that friendship with the world is hostility to God.
When John talks about the lusts (epithymia-the cravings, longing, desire) of the eye and the flesh and the pride (alazoneia-empty, braggart talk) of life he is talking about the main ways that man usually sins when our devotions run after the things of this world and the cravings of the flesh. These things are passing away.
Jesus told his disciples that they were not of this world John 15:19. He also said that his kingdom is not of this world John 18:36. We are to be not conforming our minds to the world, but renewing our minds with the word of God Romans 12:2. Paul stated that he was crucified to the world and it to him Gal 6:14. And we are also to be dead to it. We use the things of this world such as food, clothing, cars and houses, but it isn't were our first devotion is. James 1;27 said that part of true religion is to keep oneself from being polluted by this world. If we are polluted by the worries and riches of this world we will be like the rich young ruler of no use to Jesus until we give those things up and don't have an undivided heart any longer.
We must remember what it says in James 4:4 that friendship with the world is hostility to God.
