2 Timothy 3

When I read 2 Timothy 3, I think it describes the world we live in. As Paul says, “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power”, I can’t help but think about what I see in the world around me now. Since Paul said this would be the case in the last days, it leads us to wonder is the end near. However, Paul’s focus wasn’t on whether the end was near but rather how his listeners would live. He follows this descriptor of how things would be by recognizing that his listeners had lived differently. They had been living out a faith that Paul himself had both proclaimed and lived among them. In a way, he was applauding the life they had lived. However, Paul wasn’t just concerned about how they were living currently, but he was also concerned about how they were going to live in the future. He encouraged them to continue to live out their faith and then gave them a key to how to continue on a path that is different than the world around them. Look at these important words…

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

There is the key– God’s word. Why should you make God’s word a priority in your life? Yes, God’s word points us to God which is the most important thing. However, God’s word also show us the way we should live. As we read it we are taught the will of God. As we read the Bible it shows us where we have been wrong, it trains us in righteousness and helps us be prepared to do every good work. You shouldn’t need any other reason or motivation to make God’s word a daily part of your life. Who wants to be apart of the first group Paul listed? No one should. Make God’s word a daily part of your life so that you avoid being in the wrong crowd.