This is a new sermon seires Called “Perseverance”. Distractions 2 Timothy 3:9-22 You can watch more here.
Selfishness in the Last Days
It’s another day riding with Ruthie in the car on the Austin highway.
“That jerk cut me off!” Ruthie exclaims!
“Now honey, he might have had a pregnant lady in labor.”
No way! There’s not that many pregnant ladies in Austin. He’s just a jerk!”
“Well, honey, I was just trying to get you to calm down.”
“I know. But these people are mean!”
So I’ve concluded that I must be looking at the best drivers in the world. You have to be in
order to survive around here. What gets me is how people run red lights. Ruthie and I will be pulling up
to a light that is turning red. A good 3 seconds pass, and then WHOOOODH! A car speeds through the
red light in the lane right next to us. O my gosh! These people are nuts!
Red lights are traffic warning signs that are there to keep us safe. Let me ask you this on a
deeper level. How much is a warning worth if the person doesn’t obey? Or take precautions? It’s like a
check that never gets cashed. It’s worthless.
Did you know that the Titanic received 6 warnings before it slammed into the iceberg? 6
unheeded warnings. What a tragedy. God bless their souls
The Apostle Paul is going to bring a warning this morning. If the Word of God warns us, will we
listen? Will you obey and take precautions?
This is going to be a sobering subject. The good news is that the Bible is a book of answers. The
Word is going to show us 3 hazards to avoid in order to heed Paul’s warning. Are you ready?
Read 2 Tim. 3:1-9.
Paul is in prison and expecting to be executed. He is giving this information as a warning to
Timothy. Why do we warn people? So they can be afraid? If I told you there is a hole in the road, do I
want you to be scared? No. I want you to prepare.
He knows that Timothy will face resistance in the world, just as Paul has. Paul is preparing Timothy and
wanting him to be strong.
We are going to do a Q and A exercise to help us remember what we talk about today. That’s one
reason. The other reason is so I know you haven’t taken off and gone to Summer Moon café.
I’m going to say, “We are in the last days! Then I want you to say, “I am prepared! I am strong!”
Let’s try it…
Paul says to realize this. In the last days there will be difficult times. The word “realize” in the Greek
means to “remember continuously”. How many of us know our SS#? Our birthday? That’s how we
should remember that we are in the last days. Paul wants us to continually remember where we are on
God’s timeline, and what it means for the world around us.
The last days are believed by many to have begun at the time that the New Testament was
written. The author of Hebrews mentions these last days in Hebrews 1. So the last days stretch from
then until when Jesus returns. He will judge the world and establish His Kingdom on earth.
Why is it important to realize that we are in the last days? Have you ever heard someone say,
“the whole world is going to Hades!” Is that true? Is that bringing hope to the world? I realize that
people may not mean it literally, but this is a statement that is not only false according to the Bible but
insulting to our Savior.
Jesus is the Savior of the world. Does He want to hear us say that the whole world is going to
Hades? We are supposed to be saving the world; not wanting people to perish. This is what can happen
when we dwell in ignorance.
In general, if we don’t realize we are in the last days, we will think something is terribly wrong
with the world. For example, let me ask you. Is there something wrong with the world?
Of course there is, you say! I agree with you from that perspective. But let’s consider another
perspective. The prophets of the Bible have told us for thousands of years that the world is going to get
darker before it gets better. In Matthew 24 the Lord tells us that there will be perilous days before He
returns. It seems to me that everything that is happening in the world is lining up with what the Bible
says.
So let me ask you again. Considering that the events that are taking place line up perfectly with
God’s story, is there anything wrong? Or is everything working out perfectly according to God’s story?
From that perspective, I would say everything is perfect. Perfect according to God’s will. We can rest
knowing that God is in control.
Ruthie and I had a GPS around 15 years ago. We named it Nora the Explorer. She was the
mother of Dora. She would tell us to go to the end of a road, and when the road ended, she would say,
“Continue off-road.”
What a piece of junk! Soon Ruthie started calling her Nora the Nitwit. But even now,
sometimes we will be in stand still traffic. Not moving. And our GPS will say, “You are on the fastest
route.” Yeah right! I want to say. Over time though, I have learned to appreciate that statement.
Even though I’m in a challenging situation, and it is a bummer, knowing I can be patient and be
confident that I will get where I am going gives me comfort.
God has the best story. And unlike GPS, He will not fail. He is with us in the battle, and He will walk the
path with us. Knowing where we are in God’s story gives us peace, hope, and strength.
Our first hazard to avoid is ignorance. Paul says realize continuously that you are living in the
last days. Let’s not be discouraged by a dark world around us but be aware that this is part of a bigger
story.
So what about you? When it comes to talking about the last days, do you feel anxiety and
uncertainty? Or do you embrace where you are in God’s plan?
Let’s embrace the truth and carry out God’s plan in these last days.
We are in the last days! (“I am prepared. I am strong!”)
Speaking of god’s story, let’s see what Paul has to say next…
“For men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient
to parents…”
So if we are lovers of self, we love money because it enables us to please ourselves, we become
boastful, arrogant, thinking we are better than others, and we may stop listening to authority.
For me, an innocent dream turned into a nightmare. My first big musical performance was the
Second-Grade talent show. I played in front of the entire school and fell in love with entertaining
people. Of course, when you’re 7, you love the attention, right? Now 40 years later, I still love the
attention. Kidding.
I always knew I wanted to be a musician. I practiced diligently, and by the time I was in my
teens, I started playing in bands. So, I got swept away in the rock and roll dream. I believed, at 15 years
old, that I was going to be the best keyboard player in the world, and never have any problems. Do you
ever think something like that?
I did everything that I thought rock and rollers were supposed to do. Although I never arrived at
the rich and famous part. I chased self-indulgence with reckless abandon. It was all about me. I’m
going to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and with whoever I want. Nobody’s telling ME what
to do!
When I look back though, I can see all the people I hurt in the process. At the time, I was totally
numb to it. I didn’t care. I only saw myself. And you know what? I ended up at a place called the
gutter. Miserable. No money, no friends, no rock and roll dream. Utterly miserable. Ever been there?
Isn’t it ridiculous that such a lifestyle can be glorified? With numerous famous people having
committed suicide over the years, you would think we would figure it out by now.
It is still shocking to me that we as humanity have come so far with computers, technology,
medical science, but when it comes to the most basic Spiritual principles like loving your neighbor, it
seems like we are moving backwards as a society. Why do we still think that only thinking of ourselves
can ever be a good thing?
An article in the Wall Street Journal called, “The Valorization of Selfishness” states that modern
culture is dangerously steering us more and more to selfishness. Here is a quote from the article.
“Selfishness is NOT in short supply. It is the water in which we swim.”
An article titled, “Forgiveness May Not Always Be the Best Thing” was published by the NYT. In the
article, author Christina Coran says that “a person should only forgive if it feels right to them”. Never
once in the article does Coran suggest that anyone else’s needs or feelings should be considered.
What can we do about this twisted cultural trend? Let’s continue the Scripture. “Unholy,
unthankful, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of
Godliness but denying its power. Avoid people such as these.”
Hazard number 2 is to avoid selfish culture in the world. We should also avoid selfishness in
ourselves. We are Saved in Christ, but as long as we are in these bodies we are still susceptible to fall
back into selfish ways if we are not careful.
What does it mean to avoid selfish people? Should we avoid all people? Can we all live in a
monastery? Jesus loved people and hung out with sinners.
But Jesus also told His disciples to knock the dust off their feet when people did not want to
believe in the Kingdom. Sometimes if people won’t let us speak truth to them and receive it, we must
move on and not let them be a poison to us.
In the Wall Street Journal article on selfishness, he talks about ideology. Ideology is not our list
of beliefs or what we would consciously think of as believers, but subtle influences that mold us. Like
everyday things such as friends, co-workers, social media, and TV. His concern was that there is an
overwhelming push to a more selfish culture that no one realizes.
How do we resist? I remember a friend trying to teach me how to surf. “Stay on the board
James!” I couldn’t stay on the board. I did realize that after being in the water for a while. When I
returned to the beach I wasn’t where I thought I was. Where is my towel and shoes?
While in the ocean, I was being carried by the current without knowing. It’s the same with
ideology. The world is pulling us without us knowing. The only way to prevent it is to be anchored on a
rock. Imagine if we kept our feet on a rock while in the water. That’s Jesus. When we keep our mind
and heart rooted in Him; we know the current isn’t taking us.
So what is the strongest pull in your life? The rock or the current of this world? When you think
about your relationships, are they influencing you, or you them? Where is the influence pointed?
Toward the ways of the world, or to God?
Let’s avoid the selfish culture of this world and stay anchored on Christ.
We are in the last days! (I am prepared! I am strong!)
Speaking of standing on the rock, let’s continue in the Word. I’m going to back up in the
Scripture a bit.
“Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of Godliness but denying its
power. Avoid people such as these, for they slip into households and take advantage of women who are
filled with sinful lusts. Always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth.”
Paul is talking about selfishness as it applies to our relationship with God. If we are lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God, then we haven’t gotten it yet. Holding to a form of godliness but
denying its power. Looking like a spiritual person but not really walking in God’s power. Sound familiar?
Always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth. What? How can someone be
learning but not finding Truth? Jesus tells us whoever seeks will find. So, if they are never coming to the
knowledge of the Truth, my guess is they weren’t looking for the Truth to begin with.
What could they be looking for? Convenient spirituality maybe. Maybe they even started out
looking for the Truth, but at some point, they wanted comfort more than Truth. How nice, right?
Heard this before?
Let’s continue. They are like Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses, and they also oppose the
Truth. They will not progress, but their folly will be exposed.
Jannes and Jambres are believed to have been the magicians of Pharoah. They tried to copy the
miracles that God was doing through Moses. Until the miracles got too big, then they had to concede.
So, they were imitators.
Say it with me. Imitators. Do we like fake people? I hear over and over nowadays that we
should be authentic. Had you been growing up in the late 80’s with me, you could have experienced the
disappointment of an imitator.
I was in the 4th grade, and I loved a band called Milli Vanilli. We would have sleepovers, eat
junk food, and dance to Milli Vanilli all night long till it hurt. I’m talking those old crazy 80’s dance moves
too. Ouch!
It came out later, at the peak of their career, that Milli Vanilli was just a couple of guys lip
syncing. What? Yes. How they pulled it off, I have no idea. When people found out, they took away
Milli Vanilli’s Grammies, people ridiculed them, and they became the laughingstock of the music
industry. Fake! Phony baloney!
People don’t like fakes in the world. What about Church? Do people like fake Christians?
Here is the challenge though. Like the people in Paul’s day, who were learning but not Coming to the
knowledge of the Truth, we can set out to go all the way with Jesus, but we settle for what’s
comfortable because culture makes it acceptable. What’s comfortable isn’t what’s right. Or true. If we
love God, then we are Truth seekers because He is the Truth. Then we seek Truth for the Truth’s sake
whether it feels good or not. If we really love Jesus, we want to hear the Truth from His word whether
we like it or not. Right?
But the new Spiritual trend in the world is almost like the author that said to only forgive if you feel like
it. In our spiritual walk, we only have to do what’s comfortable. We only need enough of God to get
Him to answer all of our prayers. So, we can have the life we want, the friends we want, the house we
want, the car we want, the retirement we want, and just a little bit of Jesus sprinkled on top. Really?
Let me ask you a question. Did Jesus give Himself for us so that He can just be something
sprinkled on top of our life that we create? We should want all of Jesus, and then whatever we get in
this life is the topping sprinkled on top. Seek first the Kingdom, and all these things will be added. Jesus
is our world, and the things of this world are the topping.
Jesus gave it all so that we could have all of God. All of His splendor, majesty, and beauty. Are we going
to say, “No thanks, I’m good. I’ll take a small piece. I’m on a diet.” Let’s be hungry for God!
If we stop pursuing God at the point of how we feel, then we may become complacent. So, the
3rd hazard to avoid is selfish Spirituality. It sounds like an oxymoron, but yes, the self can get in the way
of our walk with God.
So how are you doing? Do you feel like you are on a spiritual plateau? Do you need a
breakthrough? I know I go through phases where I feel like I could be more focused and diligent.
Remember that God loves you and wants you to have peace right where you are. There is no
condemnation in Christ.
Here is the question. Do we want more of God beyond what is comfortable? Or do we just
want Him to answer our prayers so we can have everything we want in life?
Let’s seek first the Kingdom, so that we may be the real, mountain moving Christians that this
world needs.
We are in the last days! (I am prepared! I am strong!)
How do we become mountain movers for Christ?
What is it that heals us of selfishness? And all its ugliness?
Jesus tells us from the start how to be healed. Humanity is all running around getting exhausted trying
to fulfill himself by gaining things in the world. Jesus says, Come to Me and I will give you rest.
How do we find it? Jesus tells us to be born Again. To repent. And here it is.
“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” All of these teachings are synonymous.
Being born again means losing ourselves in order to find it. We trade our allegiance to a temporary
dying physical life for an eternal inheritance.
So as Christians, we live as if we are already dead. Where is selfishness in that? There is none.
The challenge is this. We need not only to realize we are in the last days; we need to realize that we
already traded this life. How can we serve ourselves if we are dead?
Imagine a world for a moment. A world where we are all living for each other. When I wake up,
I think of my wife. When I go to work, it’s about others. When I go to Church, it’s about others. Then
I’m in small group discussion, it’s about others. What if our Church ministry only existed to serve
others? What would that look like?
We are in the last days. (I’m prepared. I’m strong)
So, we talked about avoiding ignorance. We embrace our calling in these last days. We are avoiding
selfishness. And we avoid shallow Christianity by dying to self daily.
Let’s be dead to self, and alive in the Spirit, so that Jesus may shine in these last days.
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
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