"I write to you young people because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you. Do not love the things of the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches, comes not from the Father, but from the world."
First letter of John
I believe we can all say that the things of the world are not evil. In fact, they are good. Everything has been created for our use and enjoyment, just as we ourselves are called to live in gratitude and thanksgiving for life. The problem comes, of course, when we become attached to and are compulsively driven to attain the things of the world. Suddenly the desire of our eyes, and the pride of attainment become our primary focus. We become slaves to the things that were met for our use and enjoyment.
If we are driven with the desire to attain, then we cannot abide in God's love or will. It is as simple as that. We are substituting, consciously and sub-consciously, one desire for another. Why is it harmful to us? Because the things of the world are passing away. Wholeness and fullness can never be accomplished through things.
If we place our hope in passing things, then we place our hope in that which cannot possibly fulfill our deepest and inmost desires. This can only be done my placing our hope in that which is eternal.
From "Wisdom" literature around the world in every faith expression we hear: "To place our hope in that which is not permanent, in that which is passing, is "foolishness". So why is it so easy to get caught up in passing things?
One of the main reasons is because things are visible to us, and provide us with a certain temporary sense of satisfaction, comfort and security. They satisfy the "small self", the very thing Jesus encourages us to let go of. "Dying to self", our small self, was Jesus' commission for Himself and for us in order that the Kingdom of God may be revealed and made present in our lives as it was in His. So our inordinate desire or attachment to things directly opposes our seeing and experiencing God's Kingdom, God's Presence.
What do we hope for? Where do we place our hope? Like Peter, we have to respond: "Where is it we are to go? You and only you have shown us the path to life."
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