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Thomas Watson

The creature has a little honey in its mouth - but it has wings!

James 4:4; 1 John 2:15
Thomas Watson • October, 5 2011 • Audio
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Choice Puritan Devotional!

In his sermon "The creature has a little honey in its mouth - but it has wings!", Thomas Watson addresses the theological doctrine of love and the prioritization of affection towards God over worldly possessions. Watson argues that worldly loves ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and disappointment, emphasizing the transient nature of material things, as articulated in James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15. He supports his assertion by citing biblical examples, including King Saul's troubling conscience (1 Samuel 28:15) and the warning of wealth as a barrier to salvation (Mark 10:23). The doctrinal significance lies in Watson's call for believers to redirect their affections from the ephemeral to the eternal, assuring that God's love toward His people will far exceed any earthly attachment, fostering true contentment and security in Him.

Key Quotes

“If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy. You may as well satisfy your body with air as your soul with earth.”

“If you love worldly things, they cannot remove trouble of mind. [...] But if you love God, He can give you peace where nothing else can.”

“By loving the world, you love that which will endanger you. [...] But if you love God, there is no fear of losing heaven.”

“You may love worldly things, but they cannot love you in return. [...] God will not be behind hand in love to us.”

What does the Bible say about loving the world?

The Bible warns against loving the world, as it offers no lasting satisfaction and may keep you from heaven (1 John 2:15).

The Bible explicitly instructs us not to love the world or anything in the world, as seen in 1 John 2:15. This command is crucial because earthly things cannot satisfy the deep longings of our souls. Setting our love on worldly possessions is futile; they cannot provide true peace or contentment. In fact, they can lead us away from eternal life and the fullness found in God alone. Just as King Saul found no comfort in his possessions when tormented, the world can offer nothing to alleviate the turmoil of a troubled conscience.

1 John 2:15, 1 Samuel 28:15

How do we know that loving God is better than loving worldly things?

Loving God is better as He provides lasting satisfaction and eternal security, unlike the fleeting pleasures of the world.

Loving God is portrayed as infinitely superior to loving worldly things because God offers eternal satisfaction and security. The text emphasizes that while worldly possessions may seem appealing and provide temporary pleasure, they ultimately lead to disappointment and unfulfilled desires. In contrast, love for God ensures that He will reciprocate with profound love and peace. John 14:23 reassures believers that anyone who loves God will not only receive love in return but also the presence of God in their lives, which is an inseparable treasure, unlike worldly possessions that can fade away.

John 14:23

Why is it important for Christians to focus on loving God rather than worldly things?

Focusing on loving God is essential for spiritual health, eternal life, and true peace.

For Christians, prioritizing love for God over love for the world is essential for both spiritual health and eternal life. When one's affection is set on worldly things, it can lead to a spiritual downfall, akin to a boat capsizing under the weight of excess sail. Jesus illustrates this in Mark 10:23, highlighting how prosperity can hinder entry into the Kingdom of God. By contrast, loving God provides believers with a firm foundation and peace that surpasses worldly understanding. God's love is secure and offers eternal comfort, ensuring that those who love Him will not be left unfulfilled or abandoned, as is often the case with earthly treasures.

Mark 10:23

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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The creature has a little honey in its mouth, but it has wings. Thomas Watson, A Divine Cordial, 1663.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 1 John 2 15. It is better to love God than the world. If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy. You may as well satisfy your body with air as your soul with earth. If the globe of the world were yours, it would not fill your soul. Will you set your love on that which will never give you contentment? Is it not better to love God? He will give you that which shall satisfy your soul to all eternity.

If you love worldly things, they cannot remove trouble of mind. If there is a thorn in the conscience, all the world cannot pluck it out. King Saul, being perplexed in mind, all his crown jewels could not comfort him. 1 Samuel 28.15 But if you love God, He can give you peace where nothing else can. He can apply Christ's blood to refresh your soul. He can whisper His love by the Spirit, and with one smile scatter all your fears and disquiets.

If you love the world, you love that which may keep you out of heaven. how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God." Mark 10, 23. Prosperity, to many, is like a large sail to a small boat, which quickly overturns it. By loving the world, you love that which will endanger you. But if you love God, there is no fear of losing heaven. He will be a rock to hide you, but not to hurt you. By loving Him, we come to enjoy Him forever.

You may love worldly things, but they cannot love you in return. You love gold and silver, but your gold cannot love you in return. You give away your love to the creature and receive no love back. But if you love God, He will love you in return. If any man loves Me, My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him. John 14.23. God will not be behind hand in love to us, for our drop of love to Him, we shall receive an ocean of His love.

While you love the world, you love that which is infinitely below the worth of your souls. When you lay out your love upon the world, you hang a pearl upon a swine. You love that which is inferior to yourself. As Christ speaks in another sense of the birds of the air, Are you not much better than they? Matthew 6.26 So I say of worldly things, Are you not much better than they? You love a fair house or a beautiful garment. Are you not much better than they? But if you love God, you place your love on the most noble and sublime object. You love that which is better than yourselves. God is better than the soul, better than angels, better than heaven.

You may love the world and receive hatred for your love, Would it not vex one to lay out money upon a piece of ground which, instead of bringing forth grain or fruit, should yield nothing but nettles? Thus it is with all earthly things. We love them, and they prove nettles to sting us. We meet with nothing but disappointment. But if we love God, He will not return hatred for love. I love those who love me. Proverbs 8, 17. God may chastise His children, but He cannot hate them. Every believer, is part of Christ, and God can as well hate Christ as hate a believer.

you may over love the creature you may love wine too much and silver too much but you cannot love God too much it is our sin that we cannot love God enough how weak is our love to God if we could love God for more than we do yet it can never be proportionate to his worth so that there is no danger of excess in our love to God You may love worldly things, and they die and leave you. Riches take wings, relations drop away. There is nothing here abiding. The creature has a little honey in its mouth, but it has wings. It will soon fly away. But if you love God, He is a portion for ever. Psalm 73, 26 As He is called a sun for comfort, so a rock for eternity.

Thus we see that it is better to love God than the world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. 1 John 2.15
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