The Bible Makes it Clear That Not All Love Is Not Good

Understanding Love Through the Bible: The Right and Wrong Objects of Love 

The Bible, often described as the ultimate book of love, provides profound guidance on what it means to love rightly. While love is central to the Christian faith, not all love is good, and not all objects of love are pleasing to God. Scripture makes it clear that our love must first be directed toward God, then toward others, and finally, it warns us against loving the wrong things, such as the fallen world and its sinful systems. Understanding these distinctions allows believers to align their lives with God’s will and navigate the complexities of living in a world marred by sin. 

The first and greatest commandment, as given by Jesus, is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” This directive is not just an encouragement to feel affection for God; it is a call to complete and unwavering devotion. Loving God with all our heart signifies a deep emotional connection, where our desires and affections are aligned with His will. To love God with all our soul is to dedicate our very essence, the core of who we are, to Him. Loving God with all our mind requires intentional focus, study, and understanding of His Word, ensuring that our thoughts are in harmony with His truth. This commandment calls for total commitment, leaving no part of our lives untouched by God’s love. It challenges believers to evaluate where their loyalties lie and to remove anything that competes with their love for Him. When we prioritize God above all else, our decisions, relationships, and actions reflect His glory. This kind of love transforms us, shaping our character and drawing us closer to His purpose for our lives. Psalm 73:25 echoes this sentiment: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” A life centered on God ensures that we do not fall prey to idolatry or distractions that pull us away from Him. 

Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is not merely a passive state of being but an active pursuit. It involves dedicating our time, talents, and resources to knowing Him and making Him known. To love God fully means immersing ourselves in prayer, scripture, and worship, seeking to understand His nature and aligning our lives with His purposes. This love also requires obedience. As Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Obedience is not a burden but a joyful expression of love and trust in God. When we follow His commands, we demonstrate our faith in His wisdom and goodness, acknowledging that His ways are higher than ours. This love is transformative, empowering us to overcome sin, endure trials, and live in hope. 

In loving God first, we also learn to love ourselves rightly. This is not a selfish or prideful love but a recognition of our identity as God’s creation, made in His image and redeemed by His grace. Psalm 139:14 reminds us, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” When we see ourselves as God sees us, we can embrace our worth and purpose, rejecting the lies of the world that seek to devalue or distort our identity. This self-love, rooted in God’s truth, enables us to love others with humility and compassion. 

The second greatest commandment flows naturally from the first: to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus taught this in Matthew 22:39, saying, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” This commandment emphasizes the interconnectedness of our love for God and our love for others. When we love God wholeheartedly, His love overflows into our relationships, enabling us to love others selflessly and sacrificially. This love is not limited to those who are easy to love or those who love us in return. Jesus challenges us to love even our enemies, as seen in Matthew 5:44: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This radical love reflects the heart of God, who extends grace and mercy to all, regardless of their actions or attitudes toward Him. 

Loving our neighbor requires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. It calls us to empathy, kindness, and service, putting the needs of others before our own. Philippians 2:3-4 encourages this mindset: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” This kind of love mirrors Christ’s love for us, as He humbled Himself to serve and save humanity. Loving our neighbor also involves forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 instructs, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Forgiveness is a powerful expression of love, breaking the chains of bitterness and restoring relationships. 

While the Bible emphasizes love, it also makes clear that not all love is good. The Bible warns against loving the wrong things, such as the fallen world and its sinful systems. First John 2:15-17 provides a sobering caution: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” This passage reveals the dangers of misplaced love, which leads us away from God and toward destruction. The world, in this context, represents the system of values, beliefs, and behaviors that are opposed to God. It is characterized by selfishness, materialism, and rebellion, seeking to gratify the desires of the flesh rather than honor the Creator. 

This fallen world is under the influence of Satan, who is described as its ruler in John 12:31 and 2 Corinthians 4:4. His goal is to deceive and distract, leading people away from the truth of God’s Word and into sin. The love of the fallen world is seductive, appealing to our base desires and offering temporary pleasures that ultimately leave us empty and unfulfilled. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” The fallen world promotes a counterfeit version of love, one that is self-serving and conditional, rather than selfless and unconditional as God intends. 

To resist the allure of the fallen world, believers must cultivate a heavenly perspective, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary pleasures. Colossians 3:2 instructs, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This requires intentionality and discipline, as we renew our minds through the study of scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:2 emphasizes this transformation: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” By rejecting the fallen world’s influence and aligning ourselves with God’s Kingdom, we can live in freedom and purpose. 

In navigating the three worlds described in scripture—the physical world, the world of humanity, and the fallen world—we must approach each with discernment and faith. The physical world, as God’s creation, is a gift to be appreciated and stewarded responsibly. Genesis 1:31 declares, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” This world reflects God’s glory and power, as seen in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” However, we must remember that the physical world is not an end in itself but a means to glorify God and serve His purposes. 

The world of humanity, encompassing societies and cultures, presents both opportunities and challenges. We are called to engage with and love people in this world, sharing the Gospel and reflecting Christ’s character. At the same time, we must guard against adopting values and practices that contradict God’s principles. Matthew 5:16 encourages us to be a light in this world: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

Finally, we must reject the fallen world and its sinful systems, choosing instead to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Philippians 3:20 reminds us, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” This eternal perspective empowers us to resist the temptations of the fallen world and to live in alignment with God’s will. 

In all things, love must be guided by truth and directed toward the right objects. By loving God first, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and rejecting the love of the fallen world, we can fulfill the greatest commandments and live in the freedom and joy of God’s Kingdom. Let us strive to love rightly, reflecting the heart of our Creator and drawing others to His saving grace.