Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Beware of the Signs

2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5 – But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Signs are an important part of daily life. Signs on highways keep us safe. Signs in stores provide direction. Signs also speak to our bodies when a medical condition might be upon us. There are spiritual signs as well and they are to be taken very seriously or spiritual disaster will occur.

In today’s scriptures are spiritual warning signs indicating what life will be like in the last days of human history. Now don’t be quick to say, “These are unbelievers and the world. Doesn’t apply to me.” Yes, the Apostle Paul is addressing unbelievers but a certain kind of unbelievers; the kind that profess some type of spirituality, religiosity, maybe even Christianity. Read again his words: having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. This might very well be a description of the 21stcentury church in America of professing Christians–worldly, consumed with self, miserly with money, and over-the-top obsessed toward pleasures, recreation and entertainment. So, for us who profess Christ, it is healthy to beware of at least three signs in today’s scripture to ensure we are not being swayed by the culture, the devil, and our own deceitful hearts.

First beware of being a lover of self. The extreme contradiction in Christianity is the professing Christian living absorbed with self and the sin of selfishness. When it comes to self in the Bible, the only good mention of “self” is self-control, self-discipline, and self-denial. Flee from all others. A selfish Christian is confusing. Christ died to free us from self, not remain in the bondage of selfishness.

Next beware of being a lover of money. Be a good steward of what God has given us but don’t be stingy with what God has given us. The marks of a mature Christian in handling money are generosity in meeting the needs of others and liberality in giving to fund the Gospel. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Be such and give evidence of heeding the warning sign of not being a lover of money.

Finally, beware of being a lover of pleasure. Enjoy God’s world. Praise Him for healthy and wholesome entertainment and recreation but don’t be consumed with pleasure. Our world is, and for the Christian who enjoys the things of the world more than the things of the Word, they are being conformed to the world not the Lord. Be cautious on the amount of time we give for recreation, entertainment, and hobbies. If there is significant imbalance toward the things of the world at the expense of serving the Lord and being in His Word and prayer for spiritual growth, stop. We are not heeding the warning sign about being a lover of pleasure.

God has given us much protection to ensure we stay close to Him; His Son, His Spirit, His Word, His church and warning signs to heed. May we be sensitive to not only “read them” but follow them.

PRAYER: “Father, protect me from not only the evil culture consumed with self but from myself who wants to do the same.”

QUOTE: “The only good mention of “self” in the Bible is self-control, self-discipline, and self-denial. Flee from all others.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim