Self-Love

[2Tim 3:1-2]

People say, “back in Bible times” or “back when Jesus walked the earth” as if the Bible was only a book of ancient history. I’m here to tell you that if you are living and breathing today, you are living in Bible times. Jesus is alive and well and walking around today. Hopefully, He is walking in you!

The Bible is more than a history book. Don’t get careless and forget that it is full of prophecy. You and I are living in the time that was foretold and called the last days. The last days began when Jesus physically left the earth, and His Spirit was poured out on mankind (Acts 2:17). Now let’s discover some details of Bible prophecy, and what society will be like in these last days.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 (KJV) – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Paul began his list of characteristics that will mark the end-time, off-track society. The phrase “lovers of their own selves” gives us a heads-up to the main sign that will let us know we have entered the very last days. This unmistakable sign will be excessive self-love. In this verse, the Holy Spirit describes a society that is self-focused, self-centered, self-absorbed, and self-consumed.

This phrase is a translation of a strange compound of two Greek words that don’t seem to fit together. But in spite of this odd Greek word, this is exactly the word that the Holy Spirit chose to use to make this important point about society at the very end of the age.

This word philautos is a compound of the Greek words phileo and autos. The word phileo means to love or to be fond of, and it denotes the love, fondness, attraction, or romantic feelings one has for another. This word describes a deep and profound love that is directed toward someone else. The second part of the word is autos, which is the Greek word for oneself.

Rather than possessing love, fondness, attraction, or infatuation for another, those who fit the description portrayed by this abnormal word philautos are in love with themselves.

Flowing out of this idolatrous worship of self, society will swerve off-course into a wide range of devastating blunders. This primary trait is the base for all sin, and will usher in the rest of the dangerous details of Paul’s list, effecting every facet of global society.

We will be looking at more details of these items on Paul’s list next time. Until then you could read an encouraging article on how to help others in the last days, called Supernatural Gumption.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond