2 Timothy 3: 1-9, 13 Self Love, End Times & False Teachers

 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 13    1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

After the first 4 verses, it's pretty obvious that Paul's words were prophetic. While there has always been self-centeredness in our culture, most commentators agree that the idea is that it would become more intense and more extreme..... and here we are today.  Unrestrained self-worship. 

We take the King of Glory from His throne and replace Him with "ME".  Proud boasters, headstrong and haughty, they love themselves, money, their own pleasures.  Idol worship at its finest.  

And their lifestyles reflect that fact.  Rather than live as God intends, they rebel against Him.  You can spot it by their conversation (blasphemers, slanderers, proud boasters) their attitudes (unthankful, unloving, unforgiving, disobedient to parents) and their actions (no self control, brutal, traitors, hating what is good).  They are deceived  and they seek to deceive (v13) others, and eventually they'll be exposed.

Paul tells Timothy to 'stay away' from them.  They may seem religious (v5) but they want to hijack others, especially these 'thirsty women' who are easily sucked in.  

The false teachers and the pagan culture will whisper these things to us, to our friends and our kids.  Sadly they are like a predator, waiting to pounce.  Their favorite prey are women tangled up with desires -  empty souls.  Rather than embracing God's truth, they buy the lies: "You're enough, you are worthy, follow your dreams, it's all about you" and they will fill the emptiness with the sweet-talk because it seems to soothe their thirst.. but it's temporary and deadly.  It's like drinking salt water... it may feel wet going down but it will rot you inside.   Like our girlfriend at the well.... forever hoping the next guy or the next thing will satisfy these longings.  You see, we are not worthy - it's not about us - and we are not enough.  Our flesh is an all-consuming monster. "Self" is a bottomless pit that will never be satisfied until the Holy Spirit moves in.  If we stop and think, we all know that is true on a personal level.

In his last correspondence, Paul reminds his successor what to be on guard for.  He will have to protect the flock from these people.  We have to protect ourselves from these lies.   We have to protect our children from being drawn in as well.   Paul is getting ready to tell Timothy how to do it. 

Perilous times come in the last days and these are the signs.  Self-love, self-exaltation,  and rebellion against all that is holy.  Not unlike Noah's days. Certainly a reflection of today's self-centered, indulgent, anti-Christ culture.  It would be too disturbing if it weren't for the fact that it means the return of our King.  The only one who belongs on the throne of our hearts.