3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3 New King James Version (NKJV)
- Slanderers: Many take this sin very casually. Perhaps it helps to remember that the devil is labeled as the false ‘accuser of the brethren’…we may want to be careful about the spiritual company we keep!
- Lack of self-control: It helps to think out and filter our words and actions through the sieve of ultimate glory. Who does the word/action glorify? Us or our Father in heaven? (who desires to be the end-point of any glory at all times). Moderation in every type of passion and emotion helps out here.
- Brutal: Pure evil….
- Despisers of good: Anything good is from God. Proud people will always look down on good and pious objects, events or people.
- Traitors: Many continue to follow in Judas’s footsteps in their relationships with neighbors and family. It helps to remember how he ended up.
- Headstrong and Haughty: If we truly understand how much God HATES the proud, this would not be such a problem. We would be running from every semblance of pride and haughtiness as if fleeing an evil spirit.
- Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God: God’s love for us has been proven by the sacrifice of Jesus and the consequent privileges for those who become joint heirs with Jesus. He did ask that we love Him with ALL our hearts and all our minds and all our might. Loving any blessing (human or material) more than the Giver of the blessing just sounds counterproductive…..
- Hypocritical Christians – Having a form of godliness but denying its power: Shallow Christianity does not want it’s thoughts, words, actions, appetites and emotions to be completely ruled and overruled by the guidelines of God’s Word. It prefers to live by it’s own rules and interpretations or selectively appropriates God’s truths. We must pray to live in total submission to the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Whether we choose to do so or not, His sovereign will is always carried out.
- Lastly, we are warned to keep our distance from perilous men lest they influence us away from God’s paths. While we keep our distance, we should however intercede for them, that they may taste of the same grace that makes us different from them…….
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 