2 Tim 4:2-4 – A Charge to Us All (Pt. 2)
2 Timothy 4:2-42 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV)
A time has been reached in our society. A time that is not news to anyone who knows God. A time which has been gathering for a long time. A time to spereate your views of societal norms from those of God’s norms. We, as followers of the one true God, are called to be servants, to “preach the word”, and to be heralds of his God-breathed Scripture.
This session I will focus on 2 Timothy 4:3.
What is the original sin? What was the sin that removed Adam and Eve from direct daily interaction with Adonai?
Pride – a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.
It seems so simple, and I’m sure most who read this would say, “I don’t have any problems with pride. I’m a very humble person.” I call bull. It is in our very nature to be prideful. We are prideful of our homes, prideful of our family, prideful of our church, prideful of our country, prideful of ourselves. If you are denying you are prideful, then it is only out of pride you are denying it. I struggle with pride. We all do.
What does this verse have to with Pride? Everything.
It is simple to see that we like to feel good, and don’t like to feel bad. Simple concept, right? Why would we go to a church where the preacher is going to remind you that you are a sinner who needs Jesus, when there is another down the street that will tell you how to be rich and happy right now or that your sinful lifestyle is alright after all? Why would you go to a church where the teaching is about service and giving of our time, money, and prayers without expecting anything in return on earth, when there is yet another around the corner that will tell you that you being happy is the most important thing, and giving money will get you more money and you should be praised for your large donations.
In Matthew 6 Jesus speaks on how to properly understand our rewards and giving, praying, and fasting. He says to “sound no trumpet before you”. Don’t toot your own horn! (Sound familiar?) The hypocrites in the synagogues did this to get the public recognition they thought they deserved, but Jesus chastised them saying, “Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward”.
There are so many false doctrines and teaching that will pander to just about any special interest one can have. You want to be told it’s OK, and God wants you to be gay? There’s a church for that. You want to be told God wants everyone to be rich and live in huge houses and drive fancy cars? There’s a church for that. You want to be able to dabble in astrology and mysticism? There’s a church for that. Want to be able to have drunken orgies and smoke pot? There’s a church for that. There’s a so called “church” or denomination for just about anything. And there are fewer and fewer churchs that can stand up to the “itching ears” of the masses. You are ridiculed as being closed minded, right-wing, and hateful because you won’t accept and preach acceptance of every possible desire people have.
Whether you like it or not, God is in charge. His rules are not to bring harm, but to bring order, provide for our well-being, and to further his glory.
Matthew 6:16-1816 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)
Where is your heart?
Matthew 6:2424 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)
The last word of that verse that is translated “money” is the Greek word mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions. The word serve is the Greek word douleuō which indicates the work of a slave, not an employee. Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service. A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to possessions.
Matthew 6:31-3431 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)
Don’t let your pride in the here and now worry and concern you so much that you “wander off into myths.” Do not “turn away from listening to the truth” that may not make you comfortable. The reason it doesn’t make you comfortable is because the Spirit of God is trying to convict your heart to repent of your sins and pride. Once you have confessed your sins to the Lord, and repented, you will find complete comfort and peace in sound (healthy) teaching, and will be better established to recognize the myths trying to pull your itching ears to them.
We must recognize this pride and desire to satisfy our itching ears and bring it to God in repentant humbleness. He knows we are prideful creatures. However he created us with free will to let us make the decision to serve Him instead of possessions. He also gave us a solution to our pride. His Son Jesus Christ. He alone is the way to be saved and forgiven of our prideful nature.
These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.
Please pray and think on your own about this topic. Do not base your views on societal norms. Man will deceive, God does not. You are responsible to God for your actions. “Everyone else was doing it” will not be an acceptable excuse on the day of judgment.
Matthew 7:21-2321 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
