In some parts of the world, people catch monkeys with a simple trap: they place a treat inside a narrow-necked jar. The monkey reaches in, grabs the food—but with its clenched fist, it can’t pull its hand out. Freedom would be as simple as letting go, but the monkey refuses, and stays stuck.
This morning we’re going to look at 3 coconuts, if you will, that keep us trapped.
The world grabs our attention with what looks like treasure. But it traps us when we refuse to let go. The flesh says “I need it,” the eyes say “I want it,” and pride says “I deserve it.”
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world (1 John 2:16, ESV)
- “Desires” – Literally desire, lust, cravings
- humanity in its sinfulness has followed evil rather than good and has worshiped the created things rather than the Creator (Rom 1:20).
- For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:18–25, ESV)
- The problem is not that God created the material things of the world. The problem is that people have made these things into idols.
- “All” Period. End of sentence. Not some. Don’t mix and match and deem some things ok. And some things not.
- ”Desires of the flesh” – John would include anything and any way in which humans improperly fulfill fleshly desires (overeating, drunkenness, etc.).
- The meaning extends to a life being driven by the physical senses and a determination to satisfy them apart from consideration of God’s will.
- John’s phrase refers to those who want to gratify their physical desires, regardless of the well-being of others
- and apart from consideration of what God wants.
- Life abandoned to lust of the flesh is a life lived with ourselves at the center.
- “Desires of the eyes” – the tendency to be captivated by the outward show of things, without enquiring into their real values.
- It is a focus on material mongering. The progression is “I see it,” “I like it,” “I want it.” Then, ultimately “I must have it,” and “Here’s how I will get it.” This approach to life gives little value to the unseen treasures in this life or the next. People who have this approach to life have their values anchored in tangible things. They are consumers of things bought with a price or stolen from others. A person driven by sinful cravings and lusting eyes will have great difficulty loving God or even other people. The central object of this person’s affection is self.
- Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, NEITHER shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (Genesis 3:1–7, ESV)
- The first sin in the garden didn’t start with rebellion—it started with desire. Genesis 3:6 says the fruit was ‘good for food’(desire of the flesh), ‘a delight to the eyes’ (desire of the eyes), and ‘to be desired to make one wise’ (pride of life). John’s warning isn’t new—it’s ancient. The same tactics the serpent used in Eden are still at work in the world today.
- Our eyes are a precious gift from God (Prov 20:12). They are, however, often the means by which sinful desires are introduced into the mind of the individual.
- APP: Use your eyes for worship.
- ”Pride of life” – One translated this phrase as “the vain glory of life.”
- John is also condemning the pride that results from giving false value to the things of the world
- This pride that results from and in worldly possession is an affront to God, for it
- leads to a glorification of the self and a
- failure to realize the dependence of humanity upon God, the Creator, for existence.
- In this area of temptation, individuals make idols of their livelihood, social standing, and any other status symbol that the world determines is important but that matters little to God.
- Pride, prestige, power, and position count for nothing in the kingdom of God. The value system of this world is turned on its head when God provides the evaluation.
- This term describes people who brag of accomplishments and possessions that are not even rightfully theirs, just so they will look good in the eyes of others.
- APP: When we boast of ourselves before others to seem more than what we are, it shows that we have misplaced values.
- We can be guilty of this, even when we think of Kingdom of God things…
- Jesus warns us of such behavior in the Sermon on the Mount.
- Even boasting in doing godly things can be dangerous because of pride. See: Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- “Father” – The more we spend time with God, the less attractive these temptations are.
- ILL: The more time I spent with Allison, the uglier that other girl got!
- ”from the world” – What the world offers is counterfeit.