PERILOUS TIMES!

PERILOUS TIMES!

2 Tim 3:1-5 KJV

3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

          The Greek word that is the basis for the word perilous in our text is chalepos and indicates the idea of reducing strength; dangerous; furious or fierce. All those things and more describe our times, but in all our efforts at resolving individual problems I wonder if we are missing the real problem behind the problems.

1. Misplaced Love!

         

          In the days of perilous times men shall love themselves supremely. Their love for others and their love for God will necessarily take a back seat. The result will naturally be broken relationships, fractured homes, abused and neglected children and a weakened sense of duty and loyalty. Selfishness breeds greed, gluttony, laziness and conflict. The conflict comes when two equally selfish people want the same thing. This leads to…

2. Covetousness!

          The word covetous is a word that literally means “a fondness of silver!” From this root grows a tangled and thorny tree which bears the fruits of thievery, hoarding and parsimony. It makes the wealthiest of men miserable because there is never an end to their want. This competition for silver ultimately leads to…

3. A lack of humility characterized by boasting and pride!

Boasting is the result of an emotional need to be the best. It is actually a deep doubt of oneself. It springs from thoughts of inferiority rather than superiority. Pride is its cousin. Proud boasters are pitifully unable to enjoy life. These are they who incur vast debt so as to attract the awe and admiration of men. They are extravagant exhibitionists or else they are loud philanthropists. The opinion of men is their opium.

4. Blasphemers!

          Another result of autonomous pride is blasphemy. Those who populate these perilous times disdain both man and God. A creeping lack of respect covers the land and these are “not ashamed to speak evil of dignities” as we see in Jude verse 8. This spirit of blasphemy invades even the home and children become…

5. Disobedient to parents!

          Strong’s Concordance uses the strange word “contumacious” which means insubordinate and seditious. Sedition is the violent overthrow of authority and we are seeing this in families.

6. High-minded!

          Ah! This is an interesting word from the Greek. It is the word tuphoo which means “to envelope with smoke” and it means to surround oneself with an aura of self conceit. The smoke is thick in our culture today!

7. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God!

          God has been displaced by entertainment and delights. Yet there is a form, morphosis, or appearance of religion. It is an empty shell gutted of its reality and effectiveness. It is worse than heathenism for it sits in the place of real faith blocking its path to the heart.

So, how are we to survive as believers in times such as this? Paul gave Timothy some good advice regarding living in such times later in the chapter.

2 Tim 3:13-15 KJV

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord, times certainly are hard. Make my heart soft and make me eager to listen to you and obey. AMEN