Lovers of Pleasures!

2 Timothy 3:1-4
[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.
[6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

There is no doubt that we are living in the last days. This can be confirmed but observing the happenings around the world, for there is no doubt that we are living in perilous times. Verses 2 through to 4 outline some of the signs that we can look for. I don’t know about you but I see this on a daily basis. Surely we are living in the end times.

But, it is the phrase “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” that caught my attention this week. Now, I have glossed over this scripture many times, missing the real meaning. It doesn’t say that they won’t love God, but the scripture is saying that they will love pleasures more than God. These people will have a love for God, but they will be driven by a desire for self fulfillment. The people the Bible is speaking about here will come to church when their diary is empty, when there is nothing better to do and when they need God to do something so that they can have a more pleasurable life.

These people will look Godly, but will deny the power of God. When it all “boils down”, these people don’t trust God to bring the abundant life that He promised. They will always revert back to their “life of pleasures”. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Because they reject the power of God, God cannot do exceeding, abundantly for them (Ephesians 3:20).

As a result of their miss placed priorities, these people are led away with divers lusts. Further more, they are ever learning (coming to church, home friendship groups etc) and never able to come to a knowledge of God!

Let’s make an assessment of our lives. If we want the blessing of God on your life we must have our priorities right!

That's my five minutes!