What does 1 John 2:15 mean when it says 'Do not love the world'?

TL;DR:

Instead of being conformed to the values and attitudes of this world, believers are to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Christians are called not to love the world but to love God and all that is good above all else.

what does the bible say?

In 1 John 2:15–17, the apostle writes to believers, "Do not love the world or 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15–17). It is not the created world itself that is sinful but the rebellious anti-God system of the world. The spirit of this world that comes from the god of this world (Satan) is set against God and His ways (Ephesians 2:1–3; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Believers are called not to be enticed by and to love these things but instead to live for God and the things that are good and true.

from the old testament

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” This is known as the Shema, taken from the first word “hear” in Hebrew. Modern Jews consider the recital of the Shema both evening and morning to be one of their most sacred duties. It was cited by Jesus as the “greatest commandment in the Law” (Matthew 22:36–37). Reciting this helped the Israelites to see who they were supposed to love above all else, and that put everything else into perspective.

from the new testament

John specifies what he is referring to when he forbids us from loving the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All of these are sinful and rebellious against God and His will for us. In contrast to these manifestations of the love of the world, Christians are commanded to imitate Christ and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives (Titus 2:11–14).
Not loving the world does not mean we should not love the people in the world; God clearly commands us to love everyone in the world, including our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Mark 12:31; John 15:12).
Not loving the world does not mean that we are not to enjoy or utilize the good gifts that God has given us in the world (James 1:17).

implications for today

Even though we ought to love the people in the world and enjoy the good gifts God bestows on us, we must always be careful not to elevate any of them to first place in our hearts and lives. If we do this, we make a good gift into an idol. Our God is a jealous God and He forbids idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:24; 1 John 5:21). This is why it is so important for us to love God first and foremost. There is a reason the first and greatest commandment is first. In part, it keeps us from making idols out of who we are called to love secondly. While we enjoy and use the good gifts God has given us in this world, we must never make them preeminent. Jesus said that whoever loves their mother or father, son or daughter, or even their own life more than Him is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37–39). Our love for Jesus must be greater than our love for anyone or anything in this world. When we see a beautiful sunset, we don’t need to worship the sunset but can praise God for His beauty and creativity. When we find enjoyment in life, we can rejoice that God is a God who delights and who wants us to be joyful. When we work hard and accomplish good things, we can be thankful that He gave us the ability and rejoice that our work is fruitful. We do not need to make work an idol but rather use that, as well as all things, to be thankful to God, who gave us these good gifts while living on this earth. If we love the world predominantly—nature, pleasure, work, or anything else—then the love of God is not in us. To love God above this world we must continually renew our minds with the Word of God and set our minds primarily on what is spiritual instead of what is earthly (Colossians 3:1–4).

understand

Believers are called to love God more than the world, which represents a rebellious, anti-God system.
The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life are examples of worldly temptations that we are not to love.
The world and its desires are temporary, but those who love God and do His will abide forever.

reflect

How do you see the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, or the pride of life affecting your choices?
How can you intentionally prioritize loving God over the things of this world in your daily life?
What practical steps can you take to align your thoughts and actions more with eternal values rather than temporary worldly desires?

engage

How does loving the world affect a Christian’s relationship with God and their spiritual growth?
How can we engage with and enjoy the world while still keeping God as our ultimate focus?
How can we encourage one another to resist the temptations of the world and live with eternity in mind?