“For everything that belongs to the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle — is not from the Father, but is from the world.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

For everything that belongs to the world is not from the Father but from the world. But what is from the world? 

The lust of the flesh is what I gotta do. Because I want to do it I get to do it. The Flesh has a craving for something and because I crave it I want to do it. 

The lust of the eyes is what I see I gotta have. Often keeping up with the Jones falls in this category. Because I see they have this new nice thing I gotta have one better than them. 

The pride of one’s lifestyle is the way I live I want to keep it that way. My Grandparents lived this way. My Parents lived this way. So I will live this way. It is strange that this will apply to every aspect of life except for God. All too often the current generation puts less and less preference in God so sooner or later the new generation will never have heard of God and will have to be told of God by a friend rather than a family member. 

Paul detailed the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle in Galatians 5:19-21

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/gal.5.19-21.hcsb

So if all these things belong to the world, what belongs to God?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/gal.5.22-23.hcsb

God’s command to us is not “don’t do this”, but “stay away from this but do this instead”. God does not leave us void but gives us something to fill it with. 

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2ti.2.22.hcsb

“Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6-7, 13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/1co.13.6-7,13.hcsb

“If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.14.15-18.hcsb

Stay away from the things of this world but do the things that belong to God instead!

So what in our lives is from the world? Get rid of it!

So what in our lives is from God? Hang on to it and help it to grow!