The World, or Christ?

     John tells us that we cannot love the world and love God at the same time.

     Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
                                  1 John 2:15-16 NASB

     This is what Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount.

     Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    
     No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
                     Matthew 6:19-20, 24 NASB

     This comes down to the basic question of who or what are we living for? For most, they are living selfishly for themselves. They are storing up their treasures in this life. They are pursuing the things that please their flesh and look good to their eyes. Their lives are spent trying to get ahead in this life. This is where their heart is, as Jesus said.
     An individual living for self, and temporal things cannot love God, or live for those things that please Him, because they are exact opposites. A believer in Christ is no longer selfishly pursuing this world and its ways, but living to please God in all he or she does.
     Jesus even addressed our need for food and clothing, saying we are not to worry about these things, but instead seek first His kingdom and righteousness. The world seeks after these things. The word seek means to pursue, to live for. For many, their ambition does not rise any higher than the basic essentials of life. Jesus shows us a higher way. When we pursue Him, live for Him and His kingdom, we need not worry about the basic needs of life, He will provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34).
     Many professed believers in Christ show by their lives that they are not serving Christ, Their lives are lived primarily for self. This is wicked and shows that they do not love God, or truly desire to serve Him.
     Take an honest look at your own life. What motivates the choices you make each day? Can you truly say that you are not living for the temporal gratification of self? What kind of things do you pursue? Do you seek first the kingdom of God in your daily life, or do you seek first your own wants and needs? Is your life about Jesus Christ and living righteously before Him, or is it about getting ahead in this world?
     This is an indicator of one's spiritual condition. We cannot love God while we try to hang on to this world with all it has to offer us. This world and all of it's lusts will pass away some day, but the one who does the will of God will live forever (1 John 2:17).