Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13; 2 Timothy 3; Hosea 5 & 6; Psalm 119:145-176

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This will be the state of things in this world prior to the coming of Jesus Christ for his church. The world will not get better and better. It will go as it did in the days of Noah. The above list from the Word of God is a depressing thing if we focus on if for a long time. It seems that self love will dominate the world as men love themselves. Now modern psychology is constantly telling us that we need to develop self-esteem, but the Bible says:

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Followers of Jesus are to exhibit humility and love others above themselves. Modern psychology is setting the world up for the kind of depravity the Bible tells us is coming! The list continues and has all facets of what self-love is all about. Please notice that men will be unthankful. With Thanksgiving approaching we should ask ourselves what we are thankful for and to Whom are we thankful for what we have.

Please notice toward the end of the list, the apostle says me will be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Since the first and greatest commandment is to love God (Mark 12:29-30), we really ought to check our lives on this one. Do we worship God above all else? Do we obey him? Jesus said:

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

If you have the commandments of Jesus and keep them you love him, but if you do not keep them – do you really love Jesus? I realize that no one keeps them perfectly. Let’s focus on pleasures for a moment. Would you rather watch sports on gather with God’s church on the Lord’s Day? Would you rather enjoy your hobby or read God’s Word?

What in your life has the potential for you to love it more than you love God?

He is worthy of all our love and the Bible says:

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

True pleasures are found at the right hand of God – where Jesus is seated!

In Christ,

Rody

Study to shew thyself approved

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 12; 2 Timothy 2; Hosea 3 & 4; Psalm 119:121-144

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Of course Paul addressed this letter to Timothy who was a preacher of the Word of God. Yes, those who preach must study diligently, but this text also applies to all believers in Jesus. Have you ever thought that God gave us a book and he expects us to read it? But not only read it, we must study it. What do we mean when we say that we should study the Bible? Some say that reading and studying are the same thing, but that is not true. The Greek word here translated ‘study’ means to be earnest and diligent. It means to work or labor at something.

A believer can take their Bible and quickly read over a chapter or two and call that study. Compare with me two people watching a football game. One of them is a true fan and one of them is simply there and is only mildly interested in the game. One watches the game, but the true fan studies each play. At the end of the game, the casual watcher might be able to tell you the score and which team won. The one who studied the game could give you a play-by-play recap of the entire game. This person will know the names of the players and the positions they played. This person will be able to tell you what plays were run.

If we are to study the Bible we must look closely at each word and each sentence. We must carefully consider the context of the passage we are reading. If we are to study the Bible, we must compare Scripture with Scripture. This means that we do not only read the particular passage that we are studying, but we look up cross-references and compare similar passages. When a person diligently studies the Bible they will compare the Old Testament with the New.

The apostle uses an interesting explanation here. He says that an approved workman rightly divides the word of truth. This is a carpenter term that means to ‘cut it straight’. Imagine a careless carpenter who did not accurately measure his cuts before making them. When the house he is building is complete, it will not have straight lines. When someone looks at it they will know that an unskilled carpenter built it.

If we do not rightly divide the Word, the house of our lives will be crooked! God will not approve or our work and we will be ashamed. Can you see how important it is for a person to study the Bible which is the blueprint for a Godly life?

In Christ,

Rody

I know whom I have believed

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10 & 11; 2 Timothy 1; Hosea 2; Psalm 119:97-120

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

These powerful, inspired words were written from a prison cell. Paul was not ashamed even though he was locked up in jail. Most people who are locked up are there for doing something immoral. However, Paul was locked up for preaching the gospel. As he wrote to encourage Timothy and us, he was pointing out that he was just as determined as ever that the preaching of the cross was absolutely necessary and he was not moved.

He knew who he believed. He knew Jesus! He had a relationship with his Creator and Savior. Jesus said:

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Eternal life is knowing Jesus Christ. Do you know him? Paul was persuaded that Christ was able to keep what Paul had entrusted to him. What exactly had Paul put in Jesus’ trust? He had put his heart in Jesus’ trust. He had put his physical life in Jesus’ trust. He had put his eternal destiny in the trust of Jesus Christ. The day is coming when every man will stand before their Creator and answer for the life they lived on this earth. As Paul thought about that day, he was ready because he trusted Christ with his eternity.

This is a magnificent passage about the confidence a believer can have in Jesus. Paul was not afraid of losing his salvation. He trusted Jesus and he knew that his sins were taken away. He knew that when Jesus was ready for him to come home, he would take Paul. He had no fear of death because he knew it would be a glorious homecoming for him.

Do you have this kind of confidence as you think about eternity? You may not be as close to death as Paul was, but we never really know how close we are, do we? There is only one way to have confidence as we consider standing before God. We must trust completely in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. Then we can have confidence that we are forgiven and as God raised Jesus from the dead, he will raise us from the dead too!

In Christ,

Rody

The love of money

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 9; 1 Timothy 6; Hosea 1; Psalm 119:73-96

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

This verse tells us so much about ourselves and the world in which we live. Do you want to know why babies are aborted? The root of the answer is in the love of money. Do you want to know why wars are fought? The answer lies in the love of money. Have you ever heard an investigator say, “Follow the money trail”? If you want to get down to the bottom line, sin loves money! When you disobey the Tenth Commandment, you will have a love of money and it will eventually pierce you with many sorrows.

So what do we do about this covetous tendency in ourselves? How do we combat it? We must change the view that we have of what true wealth really is. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

The opposite of covetousness is contentment and trust in God. He is our Provider. Since we can carry nothing out of this world it is foolish to try to accumulate possessions. They will not last. But godliness is a commodity that is very valuable. Instead of trying to get ahead in life we should draw near to God. We must beware that we do not set our sights on the wrong goal.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

If your goal in life is to be rich, beware! There is a snare on that path and many foolish and hurtful lusts are there. When you fall into them they will drown you! Think of all the stories of people who have become incredibly wealthy and all the traps they fall into. Think of many of today’s sports stars. Think of the debauchery of Hollywood. Think of the Rock and Roll stars and the lusts they have indulged in.

Money the Bible tells us is like a god. People will worship it and serve it. You must choose therefore which god you will serve. Will you serve the One True and Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ? Or will you serve the false god called Mammon?

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Will you love Jesus or will you love money?

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

In Christ,

Rody

Knowledge shall be increased

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 8; 1 Timothy 5; Daniel 12; Psalm 119:49-72

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Several years ago I was at JFK airport in New York about to board an overseas flight to Nairobi, Kenya. I stood there looking at literally thousands of people in the international terminal who were all leaving the United States and heading for other countries. I thought to myself how it has become possible within just a few years to travel to the other side of the world within a day or two. In Daniel’s day it would have taken months to travel a thousand miles. Imagine what it would have been like to go from one continent to another! Instead of planes, trains and automobiles it would have been camels, ships and on foot!

Over 2500 years ago, an angel delivered a prophecy to Daniel living in the Persian Empire. He was told to shut up the words he had been told and seal the book because the time was not yet the end. You and I live MUCH CLOSER to the end than Daniel did and look at what is happening! Not only do people run to and fro but the increase of knowledge is unbelievable! If Daniel had wanted to learn something new, he would have had to find a book. He might have to travel thousands of miles to find a library where that book was. You can get online and through the World Wide Web we can instantly have knowledge of just about anything.

It has been estimated that the current store of knowledge in the world is doubling every eight years. 80% of all scientists that have ever lived are alive today and they are quickly adding to the knowledge base daily. These scientists produce about 2000 pages to our scientific knowledge base every minute. If a person were to sit down and read everything they have written in 24 hours it would take five years to read it all! Talk about an increase of knowledge! Almost five hundred thousand new books are published each year.

Can you see that we are very close to the time of the end? With that said, there is no cause for alarm. It is a call to be serious about our faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a time to be serious about the church and proclaiming the gospel every time we have an opportunity.

The time of the end of the old creation means it is time for the beginning of the new! The Bible tells us how we should live since we know these things:

2 Peter 3:11-14 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

In Christ,

Rody