Wisdom from God's Word teaches us His ways of dealing with every day life situations. His lessons and commandments are not always adhered to though, and quite often they can cause contention with those who are not (or do not desire) to truly follow Him. Unfortunately, these kind of contentions can often come from those professing to be born again.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. - 2 Timothy 4:2
As we can see from the verse above we are charged with preaching His Word, and also with convincing, rebuking, and exhorting it - with all due patience. Why then do those who profess to be His cause such contentions against this directive? As always, God tells us the answer from His Word ...
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! - 2 Timothy 3:1-5
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
The majority of people like to have their ears tickled. They prefer the "soft" message, because it doesn't convict them of anything hard. So knowing what we are up against, with so many professing believers acting in opposition to the faith and leading people astray by their behavior and ignorance, we are encouraged by God to hold fast ...
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:5
Another admonition to hold fast to God's Word is given by Paul to Timothy ...
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. - 1 Timothy 6:20-21
So it is obvious from this that we should guard what was committed to our trust - namely, the Word of God. In this vocation we should avoid the profane, idle, and contradictory babblings of some, who in their folly contribute this knowledge as coming from God.
Know that this type of behavior is prevalent nowadays, and ever increasing as we approach the Day. This is especially true in places like Christian chat rooms on the Web. You must use caution when visiting these places, especially if you are a new believer, because the majority of them are filled with many of the contentions mentioned above in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
So what's the best plan? Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Avoid those who believe what they want to believe and contend with foolish and inane babblings about matters not of God. If you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Command and teach these things ... set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. - 1 Timothy 4:11-16
Amen.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. - 2 Timothy 4:2
As we can see from the verse above we are charged with preaching His Word, and also with convincing, rebuking, and exhorting it - with all due patience. Why then do those who profess to be His cause such contentions against this directive? As always, God tells us the answer from His Word ...
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! - 2 Timothy 3:1-5
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
The majority of people like to have their ears tickled. They prefer the "soft" message, because it doesn't convict them of anything hard. So knowing what we are up against, with so many professing believers acting in opposition to the faith and leading people astray by their behavior and ignorance, we are encouraged by God to hold fast ...
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:5
Another admonition to hold fast to God's Word is given by Paul to Timothy ...
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. - 1 Timothy 6:20-21
So it is obvious from this that we should guard what was committed to our trust - namely, the Word of God. In this vocation we should avoid the profane, idle, and contradictory babblings of some, who in their folly contribute this knowledge as coming from God.
Know that this type of behavior is prevalent nowadays, and ever increasing as we approach the Day. This is especially true in places like Christian chat rooms on the Web. You must use caution when visiting these places, especially if you are a new believer, because the majority of them are filled with many of the contentions mentioned above in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
So what's the best plan? Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Avoid those who believe what they want to believe and contend with foolish and inane babblings about matters not of God. If you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Command and teach these things ... set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. - 1 Timothy 4:11-16
Amen.
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