2 Timothy 3:2

“Lovers of Self”

(2 Timothy 3:2, October 2, 2011)

2 For people will be lovers of self,...

For

Paul wrote to Timothy about the nature of the New Testament era, the era of the gospel, the era where the truth of the resurrection is being proclaimed and displayed by the church. He told his younger associate that in this gospel era, people will be lovers of self. Is Paul being an optimist or a pessimist? Is he looking to a wonderful future time when people will finally love themselves, or is he warning Timothy that one of the challenges that we will face in this era is the sad development that people will be very selfish?

Answering that question is easier for us because of the word “for.” That word connects the present statement with the one that went before it, which reads, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” Paul sees this condition that he calls being a lover of self, as part of the difficulty of the present time.

people

As Paul speaks to Timothy about this era when we are waiting for the return of Christ, we should notice that he begins with the problems that come from people. People are extraordinary creatures with great potential for good. But relating to people and working together with people can lead to many troubles.

will be

Paul is not writing about something that might happen, but something that will be. There is an eternal weight of glory already for us in the heavens. There is also much opportunity for valuable service here on earth every day. But we must understand that whatever this trouble is with people, it will be a feature of the present hour, last we be unprepared for the kind of trials that are a normal part of life under the sun.

lovers of

Human beings were put on this earth to love. We will love, but we may not love what is most worthy to love. We have seen the most worthy example of love in the life and death of Jesus. There is no greater love than cross love. God sees the cross love of Christ and has made it to be the height of wisdom and power. Christ loved the Father there, and He loved you there. That love was costly.

self

While it is good to have a recognition of the blessings that God has given us in our selves, and an honest assessment of and appreciation for the gifts he has given us and the wonder of being a human being made in His image, we will be in a very sorry condition as a person if our highest love is for self.

Self care is good and necessary. But we must be willing to be lower, that someone else might be higher. If self is God, and the highest good, we will be utterly selfish, and any sacrifice will seem unworthy. If Christ is all, and the cross is the best love, then we will walk in the way of truth and love that the cross displays. Prepare yourself for this difficulty: In the present era, people will be lovers of self.