“Lovers of their own selves,” 2 Timothy 3:2. What does that mean to you? Many of us have learned that we indeed must love ourselves and take care of ourselves; but when do we cross that line and become what the apostle was speaking of here? Another word for perilous, is dangerous. Why are those who are lovers of their own selves, considered such a concern in this closing time.

“Lovers of money,” 2 Timothy 3:2. We all need money to survive and function on this planet; it is a means of paying for the things you need and must have. But why, has it become dangerous as the writer said it would. The combination of these two desires, makes a very dark and treacherous person. Their conscience is seared; they only care about what they want, and getting more. At one time, you might have said that they only care about their own group, their own house. But in this hour, it really is, more about only them.

It started way back, even in the writer’s time. “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s,” Philippians 2:21. It was taught, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth,” 1 Corinthians 10:24. If you want to talk about charity, or love as some define it, “Charity, seeketh not her own.”

Where are we going with this? Men and women, are actually jeopardizing the house of God, to have what they want. It is no secret, that these use the name of Christ, to pave the way for their own desires; their own self-fulfillment. They use it for politics; for boasting, bragging, degrading others and hiding their goals.

Underhanded; appearing to be one thing, when they are actually something else quite different. They’re ruthless. They don’t really care who they hurt or what it costs them; they might appear to be loving, but are very cold. Satan is not the only one who knows that some, have been given a gift that sees him. Such folk that we are mentioning here, also know that there are those who can see right through their façade. The Spirit has endued those good folk, with the spiritual ability to see what He sees. They abhor those people.

“Demas, hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,” 2 Timothy 4:10. It must be said, that the man referred to here, was on the front lines at one time. Something drew him away. What could draw any of us away from seeing the real power of God in action; from even the miracles that were wrought among those people. The love of self, and the love of money. We can put on all the show we want, have all the finest music and light shows available and cater to all the crowds; but, it will never replace the genuine move of the Spirit.

Perilous people, have taken over much of the world already. We cringe to say it, and fall down on our face before the Lord in fear to even speak it, but the same folk have taken over what was once God’s house also, in too many places. One last word about these times: people are going to hate those who are good. We mostly just talked a bit about the whole armor of God in times past. Now, we will finally learn how to use it.

Perilous people, play for keeps.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn