Today’s Encouragement is 2 Timothy 3:1-2 NLT You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. [2] For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
Love only themselves-
Friends we see this everywhere, don’t we, every day. In the last days… I don’t know where we are in this timeline but consider for a moment the predominant view of “Self” in today’s world.
Just a few examples, familiar phrases in today’s world –
“Be true to yourself”, “Decide for yourself what is true.” “My truth”, “My body, my choice”, “I decide what’s right for me”, “I have to do this for me”
We even take ‘Self-ies’! And we spend inordinate amounts of money on clothing, makeup, plastic surgery et al to make our “Self” look better, younger, healthier!
‘Self’ has become ‘God’ in our culture.
Now, it is important to take care of yourself, to respect yourself and have a proper attitude toward your – Self. But we too often go far beyond a healthy self-respect into self-worship, self-adoration, and constantly seeking affirmation from others of our worth!
Jesus clarified the proper perspective of Self in these instructions, (my paraphrase) … First, Love God with all you are, with all of your Self; Secondly love others just as much as you love your-Self.
The Self is equal to others, but all is secondary to God, Himself! He is to be our focus, the one we adore, the one we draw the attention of others to! We are but grass, all our beauty, our accomplishments, our lives fade quickly – and the Self we protected, promoted, and pampered becomes dust again!
“People will love only themselves…”
Father God, help us to care for ourselves with love and respect as we recognize You as our God first, and also to genuinely love, honor, and respect our neighbors equally with ourselves.
Nothing Without You
Bebo Norman
Today’s Encouragement 