2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

We shouldn’t be surprised when people who don’t belong to Christ behave in ungodly ways. In chapter 3, Paul prepares Timothy for an assault on godliness. This will not be a temporary trial, but a permanent characteristic of life in the last days.

The last days aren’t way off in the future. Timothy lived in them and so do we. It’s the time between Jesus’ victory on the cross and his final return. And it’s an age of opportunity – for people everywhere to turn to Christ for salvation. His victory is complete and his return is certain. But as we wait for him, we will experience seasons of trial that are hard to endure. What might this look like?

In verses 2–4, Paul lists 18 characteristics of ungodliness we will see in these last days. Firstly, people will love themselves – they will be self-centred, consumed with themselves and their own interests. The only thing they will love as much as themselves will be money. As they cultivate this self-love, they will become boastful and proud.

Self-love and pride will show in their relationships as they become abusive and disobedient. They will be ungrateful, unholy, unloving and unforgiving. Their speech will be slanderous and their behaviour out of control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends and be reckless and arrogant. Lastly, they will be egotistical – loving pleasure rather than God, and being only interested in enjoying life.

This is an ugly picture, but it is the natural outworking of hearts oriented towards self rather than God. We would be just like this if God hadn’t turned our hearts towards him. The root of this ungodliness is self-love, and there is only one remedy: the good news of the gospel. By this, transformation is possible: ‘if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Cor. 5:17).

Reflection

Thank God for making you a new creation in Christ. Confess the ways in which self-love and pride still affect your behaviour, and ask God to help you love him alone. Pray for yourself and your church family to remain faithful to Jesus despite the sinful behaviour of those around you. Pray for God to bring salvation to those you know who don’t love him.