2 Timothy 3:2 “People will be lovers of themselves….”
I found myself irresistibly drawn to rereading The Lord of the Rings this past summer. As I did, references to JRR Tolkien’s trilogy started popping up everywhere. Quotes on social media, mentions in a book I was reading, in a magazine article. Even in my grandson’s Veggie Tales—”Lord of the Beans.”
Because I believe God likes speaking to us in everyday language, I try to take a closer look at what’s grabbing my attention. If he wants to use the Shire to call my name, I’m listening.
The similarities between the state of Middle Earth and Present Day Earth could hardly escape my attention. It seems today’s lust for power and self-fulfillment hangs like a darkening shadow over every aspect of life (even more so in an election year). It’s as if the forces of “Mordor” have been unleashed. They will stop at nothing to bend our wills away from truth, courage and love. But we shouldn’t be surprised. Paul describes such days in his letter to Timothy. People will be lovers of themselves. They will be ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving and unrestrained in pursuing personal pleasure (2 Tim 3:1-5).
Yet in spite of the darkness, Paul unabashedly encourages Timothy to keep pressing into God, standing firm in the light of Scripture. He exhorts him to remember God’s promises. And to resist the reckless waves of self-centeredness (verses 10-17). Timothy has the opportunity to shine the light of God into the murky shadows.
And so do we, if we heed God’s call to leave our Shires of comfort and predictability and take up his will. He wants us to let go of the incessant drive to live for ourselves—a drive that keeps us in the end from all that is good and brave and beautiful. That is no small matter. We are ordinary folks, but like the hobbits, ordinary folks destined for things much greater than being our own god.
Friend, let’s stand up to the darkness. Instead of being lovers of ourselves, let’s deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus. Let him lead us to the Mountain of Doom and get rid of the heavy ring of power we’ve been saddled with for so long.
Let’s surrender ourselves first and always to the King of the Kings.