A Rosey Picture

2 Timothy 3-Part 3
Treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.  2 Timothy 3:4-5


LET IT GLOW

A few years before Dad passed away, Mom took up the hobby of painting. I knew that she had enjoyed painting before I came along because tucked away in drawers were beautiful table cloths, armrests covers, pillow cases, and other things she had painted. But, I guess having three children and a husband to care for, a household to run, and a job to maintain caused her to lay them down. So you can see why I was surprised when she hung up three gorgious paintings of roses in antique frames on the wall of her living room. I had no idea of her abilities. They were quite realistic.  By this time, she was enjoying retirement from working outside the home. Mom even went to a weekly painting class in order to learn more about her hobby. Those rosy pictures are not hanging in my house (I live in the same one) because I gave them to my neice, who asked for them. I'm sure she has them displayed somewhere in her home as an honoring remembrance of her grandmother.

After studying all eighteen earmarks of depravity that Paul wrote in a letter to Timothy, I realize that Paul didn't paint a rosy picture of the ministry to him.
"Satan has determined to stop the Lord from reclaiming His creation, so we shouldn't be surprised to see evil intensify. People don't suddenly lose their depravity upon entering a church, either. Believers grow out of their evil gradually and wisdom reminds us that not everyone in the congregation is what he or she appears,"
said Charles Swindoll.


LET IT GROW

Today's lesson is a continuation from the last two lessons. Here we are again, reading about Paul's warning of difficult and savage times ahead. In chapter 3, he gives eighteen adjectives and descriptive phrases characterizing human depravity. Today we are wrapping up those.

 My reference is from the book Swindoll's New Testament Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus:

15. Treacherous. The verb form of this root word means "to give, hand over." It carries the idea of
                             betraying the well-being of another for personal gain. This is someone who turns away
                             from a friend when he most needs an advocate. It's the same term used in Luke 6:16
                             where Judas turned over Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Also, in Mark 14-15, Jesus was
                             "given over" to the Sanhedrin, to Pilate, and to the soldiers.
                             [We see traitors who betray others and can't be trusted. They lie and break promises
                              when doing so helps them get their own way. (Wiersbe)]

16. Reckless. The literal meaning of the Greek word is "falling forward," presumably without the ability to
                        stop. We's say that someone is "rushing headlong" into trouble. They are rash and
                        headstrong, easily provoked, and susceptible to harming others without thinking.
                       ( Paul condemned such foolish endeavor.)

17. Conceited. The word means "wrapped in smoke" or "head-in-the-clouds," describing someone whose
                         lofty view of himself towers above everything else.
                         [This is a person who is puffed up with his importance, high minded. (Wiersbe)]

18. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. A "pleasure-lover" adopts a hedonistic lifestyle,
                        elevating the desires of the moment above all else, even God. This is another expression of
                        self-love.
                        [This doesn't suggest we must choose between pleasure and God, for when we live for God,
                         we enjoy the greatest pleasures (Ps. 16:11). The choice is between loving pleasure and
                         loving God. Moses chose to suffer affliction with his people instead of sin for a season
                         (Heb. 11:25). No one can deny that we live in a pleasure-mad world; but these pleasures
                         too often are just shallow entertainment and escape; they are not enrichment and true
                         enjoyment. (Wiersbe)]

In verse 5 we see a form of godliness.
"Form refers to the outward shape or appearance. Like the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees, false teachers and their followers are concerned with mere external appearances (Matt. 23:25). Their outward form of Christianity and virture makes these individuals all the more dangerous," said MacArthur Bible Commentary.

"Having the form of godliness suggests an outward appearance of religion, not true Christian faith, for they have never experienced the power of God in their lives. Form without force. Religion without reality," states Wiersbe in Be Faithful.

Liberty Bible Commentary says this:
"Church attendance is at an all-time high, but powerless. No longer are God and His teaching considered in matters of divorce, sex, or abortion. Most Christians and churches are powerless in the community. They only appear to be godly. Inwardly they are impotent because of sin."


They say, "a rose is a rose." However, sometimes I don't smell or look like a rose. My words aren't always sweet and my disposition isn't always soft and beautiful. Yeah, sometimes I'm down right prickery as the thorns on the rose bush. So as I contemplate all these characteristics, I wonder what kind of picture my life is. Is it a painting of a rosy picture of Christianity or is it like the bitter weeds in the field?


LET IT GO

Be a trusting friend.

Don't make rash decisions.

Be humble.

Make God my top priority.

Keep entertainment and worldly pleasures in their right perspective.

Be godly inside and out.