We find it painful, yet hopeful, when some pattern of thinking or doing that we have always held comes up against undeniable correction. Generally people don’t want to do things that are wrong. However, our world overflows with error that is so common and accepted that no one notices the problem. A huge problem our society promotes cannot be supported by the source of truth—God’s word. You have heard the “love yourself” mantra. Keep in mind that everything God tells us to do, or not do, supports a flourishing life for us and great glory for Him.
Consider what God says. “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self,…” 2 Timothy 3:1-2a
David Guzik comments on this amazing verse. Men will be lovers of themselves: This is certainly characteristic of our present age, when men and women are encouraged to love themselves. People are told to love themselves unconditionally and that such self love is the foundation for a healthy human personality.
i. We don’t need to be encouraged to love ourselves; we naturally have such a love. Neither should we be taught to hate ourselves, but as Paul said in Rom 12:3: For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. We must see ourselves as we really are - both the bad of what we are in the flesh and the glory of what we are in Jesus Christ.
ii. This love of self is the foundation for all the depravity that follows in Paul’s description: “But readers should note that lovers of themselves, which comes first, can be regarded as the source from which all the others that follow spring.” (Calvin)
iii. “It is no accident that the first of these qualities will be a life that is centred in self. The adjective used is philautos, which means self-loving. Love of self is the basic sin, from with all others flow. The moment a man makes his own will the centre of life, divine and human relationships are destroyed, obedience to God and charity to men both become impossible. The essence of Christianity is not the enthronement but the obliteration of self.” (Barclay)
iv. “‘Lovers of self’ aptly heads the list since it is the essence of all sin and the root from which all the other characteristics spring. The word is literally ‘self-lovers’ and points to the fact that the center of gravity of the natural man is self rather than God.” (Hiebert)
Please join us this Thursday morning 9:30 as we discuss truth and error and encourage one another in the pursuit of God’s ways in everything concerning our lives.
We will also be Livestream at 9:30. We are meeting in the new foyer of our building with lots of room for spreading out, so don’t be afraid to join us.