2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
Christians are living in perilous times. Dissatisfaction, distress, discomfort, discouragement, despair, depression, divorce, discord, disdain, disgust, dissension, and disobedience are all too common among those people who are called to bear witness to God’s glory and to reflect the image of Christ.
Countless Christians have turned to professional counselors and psychologists to help them solve their problems of living, but the problems seem to be increasing.
There have never been so many books available to Christians in their search for the perfect family, the perfect marriage, and the perfect life.
Nevertheless, many Christians fail to reflect the image of Christ in their family, marriage, and life.
Could it be that the difficulties Christians are facing are related to living in those perilous times of which Paul warned Timothy? 2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
People are perishing because of love—self-love.
They have been taught by modern psychological experts that they should love themselves. They have been told that unless they love themselves they cannot love others. “You need to love yourself.”
Radio psychologists and preachers pound the airwaves with such advice. Love yourself. Esteem yourself. Honor yourself. You are worth it. But the experts forget, Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
But, notice what comes from people becoming “lovers of their own selves.” In the verses following 1&2…
But, notice what comes from people becoming “lovers of their own selves.” In the verses following those we read in Timothy…
2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent lacking self-restraint, fierce savage, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady willful, rash, impetuous, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
A quick view of the words following “lovers of their own selves” reveals a very sinful state of existence as well as sinful attitudes and sinful actions.
Love of self is so powerful that “lovers of their own selves” are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
Folks… People suffer from unhappiness and problems of living because they have become “lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
The sinful inclination of humanity is to love self more than
God and other people
Selfishness clings to human nature and breeds covetousness
breeds lust
breeds pride
breeds arrogance
breeds disrespect for God
breeds disobedience to parents
breeds lack of gratitude
breeds deceit
and it breeds both desire and contention for one’s own way
Selfishness leads to false accusations, which are rampant as people have been encouraged to blame their parents, circumstances, and everything else but themselves for their predicaments.
Could it be that people are trying to grow and improve themselves and their circumstances without touching the root of the problem?
Could it be that love for self is lurking beneath even the most benevolent gesture and behind the most fervent prayer?
What kind of personal growth are people looking for?
What kind of personal growth are people looking for?
What kind of personal growth are YOU looking for?
What kind of personal growth am I looking for?
Personal growth that will enhance self-esteem?
Or personal growth that involves denying self and taking up one’s cross?
Personal growth that will affirm their own worth?
Or personal growth that will conform to the image of Christ?
The Lord Jesus Christ said:
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Our Pilot Paul said:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 2:8-10
Both forms of growth… loving self or towards loving God, carry a heavy cost
Loving self more than God leads to spiritual loss
Loving God with one’s entire being leads to denying self and allowing the death blow of the cross to work against the old man.
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The Daily.. Not Weekly or Weakly Christian walk… Eph 4:20
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Throughout the Christian walk there is the putting off of the old ways and putting on the new man.
This “is” the daily walk of the Christian…
Putting off the old man is equivalent to denying self,
and putting on the new man is equivalent to taking up one’s cross and following Christ.
Conclusion
While most Christians would agree in principle, how many are actually doing that daily, moment by moment walk? How many are trusting the Lord enough to take up our cross, acknowledge Him in all our ways, and look to Him to lead us away from self love to loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to loving one another as much as we already love ourselves? Every day is filled with opportunities to love God first or please self first. Which way will we go?