by John Boone
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Last Sunday we began Revelation chapter 6, which marks the beginning of the last days. In the passage above, Paul lists the characteristics of those living in the last days. Kind of sounds like our world today, doesn’t it?
The message of the Bible, particularly 1 John, is that we are identified as Christians by our love. Love of what? Our world is full of love. The problem is it isn’t the right kind of love. Jesus said the two great commandments answer that question: the love of God and the love for others. For every disciple of Jesus, love for God and love for others should crowd out other forms of love. What are the other forms of love according to the passage above?
The first is “lovers of themselves”. It is appropriate that this is listed first because self love has become a predominate theme in our culture. Self love is the antithesis of Jesus’ self sacrifice on the cross because of His love for God and His love for others.
The second is “lovers of money”. Jesus commanded His disciples to “Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (as opposed to earth) because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Being generous giving people keeps our focus heaven-ward.
The third is “lovers of pleasure”. 1 Timothy 5:6 tells us, “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” The pursuit of pleasure ultimately is the pursuit of death. (Maybe this answers why there are so many suicides today.)
Unfortunately, these three false loves have infiltrated the church and affect each one of us more than we realize. The antidote? Paul states it plainly-to be “lovers of God.” Jesus is our example. His whole life was to glorify the Father and bring Him pleasure. As disciples being conformed into Jesus’ image, that is exactly what the Holy Spirit desires to do in you and me. Our mission is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” and not let the wrong “loves” get in the way.
