2 Timothy 3 Godlessness Days

2 Timothy 3

New International Version (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reflection of 2 Timothy 3

The scripture says there would be lovers of themselves.  Learning to love yourself can be healthy but not in the sense that you become selfish and unwilling to sacrifice or help others. 

It also mentions during these days there would be those that were lovers of money. It is understood that everyone needs to make a living but that’s not what is being stated here.  To be a “Lover of Money” is one that has now placed it above God and is now motivated by currency. The bible says money is the root of all evil.  When you become a   “ Lover of Money” you glorify items and possessions. This in turn changes your decision making and actions.  You begin adapting sayings like “M.O.E” Money over everything.  Words hold power. You say something long enough you are going to believe it. It is self fulfilling. Money over everything becomes your lifestyle. When this happens you experience what is going on today that was warned about by Paul.  Parents spend so much time chasing money that they are hardly at home. Sure they can purchase a few more things but  there children do not know them.  Quality time is replaced by gifts and allowances to forget the missing relationship.  In turn children begin to value money by learning from there parents.  Since  there isn’t much parenting then disobedience and disrespect steps into the household.  Crime rates go up over the  love of money.  Objects that  are not worth your soul are now viewed as mandatory to have and people do whatever it takes to get them. 

Because of what we have or our careers  we have become Boastful and Proud.  God can not use someone that  knows everything. There must be some space left for God to add wisdom, understanding and anointing.  Saul thought he knew everything until God made him experience hardship. Through that struggle came humility. God can use a humble willing vessel.

We have become Lovers of pleasure.  We are unable to deny the flesh. Things that we know are against Gods word have been tweak or altered so that it conveniently matches your lifestyle. This can not be. Timothy states that any one that wants to live Godly will surely face persecution.  Christians are sufferers on Earth. And we reap our rewards in heaven. To be a Lover of Pleasure does not fit into Gods journey for us. Every day will not be rough but we are expected to endure more because our reward is greater.

The bible speaks on us being a ungrateful people during the Godlessness days.  It now requires more for us to be happy. The reason for this is we have a false expectation that we are owed some things. Reality is we are still in debt to Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice of sparing our souls. To wake up is a blessing and enough to praise him. To have a roof over  our heads, clothes on our backs and food on the table is works of an awesome God. These are trying times and there are plenty people who do not have any of these things.  If you thought  about what you do have as much as what  you do not  I bet it would change your perspective.  It changed the way I look at my life.

Paul also spoke on men preying on weak willed women. This is prevalent today. It is shown all through society and reality tv. Women crying because there man is not faithful or is abusive. Women who do not know there worth or are not rooted in Christ allow and tolerate too much. There are men out here who want a Godly woman and when God appoints the season will find you.  However you have to be a Godly woman to attract a Godly man. The bible says that these women fall victim to these men because they have evil desires.  Men can show you money and belongings that will excite those desires. Once again the bible says money is the root of all evil. So if the weak women were described to have evil desires. They desire worldly things and can be influenced by money. This is the main reason  why corrupt wealthy men in society and on reality tv deceive these women and then they feel victimized.  Find truth in Jesus and become the woman you were meant to be. Once the anointing is on you those tricks and moves of deceit will not fool  you any longer.

The Bible was referred to as God-breathed and can be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training righteousness.  In these Godlessness days it is important to have a relationship with our Father and his son Jesus Christ. Spend some time with him today for tomorrow is not promised.