By: Dale Weckbacher
2 Timothy 3:1
But understand this,
that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
(ESV)
In an age when many churches fear to
preach difficult truth, 2
Timothy 3:1 may not be a popular topical verse for a Sunday sermon. Pastors neglecting their calling to declare
truth from Scripture are robbing their congregation of truth that sets people
free (John
8:32). Instead of refusing to preach
difficult truth, pastors are to declare the truth and shepherd their flock
through the difficulties of life. This
is what the Apostle Paul is doing with Timothy and provides an example for
church leaders to follow.
Paul begins with teaching Timothy
that the last days will bring times of difficulty. This leads to the biblical question of when
the last days began. According to Hebrews
1:2, the coming of Jesus ushered in the last days. Therefore, the Apostle Paul, Timothy, and we
are living in the last days. This
explains why the behaviors of people listed by Paul resemble much of what is
prevalent in modern society, making it appear that 2
Timothy 3:2-5 is a prophetic passage.
Instead, this passage is instructional with Paul observing many of the
same self-centered behaviors prevalent in society today. We can break down the behaviors listed in 2
Timothy 3:2-5 into three categories.
1)
Self-centered attitudes (2
Timothy 3:2) – People dominated by self-centeredness are in love with
themselves, greedy or lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to
parents or any authority, ungrateful, and unholy. The divisiveness on modern society has its
roots in these attitudes. However, a
Child of God is to be Christ-centered or one in love with Christ. This leads to dependence on God financially,
humility due to trust in God, not abusive but loving towards others even one’s
enemies (Matthew
5:44; Luke 6:35), submission to Godly authority, thankfulness, and holiness
in Christ. This is the attitude needed
for one to get through the difficulties of the last days.
2)
Self-centered behaviors (2
Timothy 3:3) – A self-centered person is heartless for their heart centers
only on what is best for them leaving no room for any compassionate behavior
towards others unless it benefits them. There
is also no room for appeasement with enemies for they are a threat to their
well-being and must suffer defeat. They
behave slanderously towards anyone daring to disagree with their self-centered
interests. When encountering someone
threatening their self-interests, they can quickly lose control. This loss of self-control can become vicious
and brutal. A self-centered person does
not love good for the community but only what is good for them. These behaviors are all contrary to the
fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians
5:22-23). As Christians, we must
guard against self-centered behaviors for in the last days, the world needs
more fruitful Christians.
3)
Self-centered danger (2
Timothy 3:4) – Continued self-centeredness can progress to treacherous,
reckless, conceited, and pleasure-seeking behaviors that are destructive to
one’s life. The prevalent
post-modernistic philosophy of one doing whatever they believe is right is false
teaching acting like a thief in one’s life leading to their destruction (John
10:10). Instead of allowing
self-centeredness to progress to destructive and dangerous behaviors, one must
adopt the behaviors of the beatitudes as taught by Jesus (Matthew
5:2-12).
The Christian life is not a life of self-centered attitudes
and behaviors that left unchecked can progress into dangerous and destructive
behaviors. Instead, a life lived for
Christ is a life centered on Christ that follows the principles of the
Beatitudes (Matthew
5:2-12) bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-23). However, for one to enjoy
a Christ-centered life, they must restore their relationship with God that sin has
broken (Romans
3:23). I invite those that have not
done this to pray with me now,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, was
buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.
To bear the fruit of the Spirit and live in obedience to the
Beatitudes, one must have nourishment from the Bible, the Word of God and
connection with God through prayer. One
must also have a connection with other believers in Christ as Savior. To accomplish this, I encourage those that
just prayed to find a church or Bible study where they can begin learning the
truth contained in the Bible. This also
provides a place for regular connection with others of like belief as well as
connection with those that will pray for us.
A Godless world needs more fruit-bearing Christians living
Christ-centered lives. The challenge for
each of us is will we be a fruit-bearing, Christ-centered Christian.
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