1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

There are some things that, as Christians; we are supposed to love. Likewise there are things we are not to love.

2 Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Demas was a man of God that served alongside of the Apostle Paul. He journeyed with Paul to so many different places seeing all sorts of cool things. In Thessalonica Demas came across wonders that he fell in love with, enough so to leave the man of God and their ministry behind.

• Note: I have known several Demas’s in my lifetime. The pull of the things of the world can be great.

Hebrews 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

• But this is the hook, the draw. Commercials, sports figures, movie stars, music videos all show you how fun the sin can be… but they never show you what happens after. The shattered lives, drunkards, drug addicts, gamblers, ending in divorce or even suicide.

The first few bottles.

While in Lexington Kentucky the Pastor was ask to visit a man at the Veterans Hospital that was there drying out, the Pastor ask me to go with him. When we talking with this man and learning of his struggles, he told us of great loss and how he turned to drinking. He drank so much that he lost his home, then he lost his family. He started going to the bars and got to the point he’d be kicked out of every bar in Lexington. He eventually turned to Listerine. Amazed the Pastor and I ask him how could you drink a bottle of Listerine?? He said I won’t lie, the first few bottles were rough… but then the need outweighed the gag reflex. We left there with amazement but to this dismay… he was ok with it. When he got out, he had no plans to change… sad state of affairs.

The Bible goes on to tell us some things we shouldn’t love

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

What are things we should love?

1 Corinthians 8:3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Galatians 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Ephesians 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

1 Thessalonians 1:3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Titus 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

1 John 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Conclusion

John 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

We are given in the Bible examples of those things we are to love… and are not to love.

1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

You can’t serve two masters, a tree can’t produce good fruit and bad…

What do you love?

Video games, candy, superhereos, tv, phone…

… lovest thou me more than these?…