“Men shall be lovers of their own selves” (phílautos/phílos-autos): lovers of oneself, self-centred/selfish persons. As “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9), it is dangerous when human beings only love themselves and want to be king of their hearts and lives regardless of God, God’s Word or moral values. They do not mind sin, deceit, and wickedness as long as they gain what they like and want for their selfish interest, ambition and comforts, leading to a self-centred lifestyle, a man-centred family, a man-centred worship, a man-centred society, etc. God is the Source of all spiritual blessings, holiness, godliness, love, peace and joy. Therefore, if human beings turn their back against their Creator and Maker, even deny Him and His creation, and reject God’s salvation for them in Jesus Christ, how can they live a holy, godly, loving, peaceful and joyful life? Absolutely not! How about you and me?
“Covetous” (philárguros): lovers of silver/money. Money is good but “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). A person who loves money or a well-paid job/position is willing to tell lies to promote himself/herself or to damage others’ reputation for his/her selfish gain. A pastor who loves money is easy to compromise and to please men for “filthy lucre.” Those who love themselves and materialism cannot love God, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). How about you and me?
“Boasters” (alazon): show-off. Those who love themselves love also their names and want to be praised by men, so they do not mind speaking many good things of themselves and doing many good works before men to show off and get honour from men. How about you and me?
“Proud” (huperephános): shine/show oneself above others, arrogant, proud, despising others. Those who love themselves also love to be superior to others, so they usually try to show themselves above others, better than others, smarter than others, more knowledgeable and skilful than others, etc. Achieving this aim, they become proud and arrogant, despising others. Many proudly think that they are holier and more spiritual, or godly than others. How about you and me?
“Blasphemers” (blasphemos): those who are reviling/destroying others’ good name; speak against God. Those who love themselves and their superiority are not only proud but also arrogant to criticise others, to criticise even God’s Word and to speak against God and the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you and me?
“Disobedient to parents” (apeithes): unwilling to be obedient. Those selfish children only love themselves, think of themselves and want to do what they like, are rebellious against their parents. They arrogantly reject their parents’ advice and instructions. They even argue with their parents to defend their selfish lifestyle or want to “escape” from their parents’ godly care and admonition.
“Unthankful” (acharístos): unthankful, ungrateful. Only loving oneself and thinking of oneself leads to ingratitude. Many are not thankful to God their Creator and fail to worship Him while they are enjoying God’s goodness and blessings around them, even their breath, the air, the sunshine, the rain, the crops, the food, etc. so God’s wrath is against them (Rom 1:18-25). Selfish children are not thankful to their parents but take their parents’ love and sacrifice for granted! God’s Word teaches us to give “thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20).
“Unholy” (anosíos): unholy, ungodly. With human sinful nature, those who love themselves are enslaved to sins and enjoy living in sins, ungodliness and worldliness. God’s command is always the same, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
“Without natural affection” (astórgos): without family love. Many do not highly value “family love,” nor treasure it nor maintain it. Thus, there is family breakdown, separation, divorce, adultery and fornication. Children left their families to live in “freedom” with their friends! God’s curse is upon the homosexual, but many proudly think that it is not a sin or an abomination before the holy God!
“Trucebreakers” (áspondos): unwilling to be reconciled, absolutely irreconcilable. Those who are self-loving and arrogant are unwilling to humble themselves to be reconciled with others. There is no true unity in the family, in the church or in the society!
“False accusers” (diábolos): falsely accuse and divide people without any reason. Those who love themselves and their reputation are willing to tell lies and falsely accuse others to lift themselves up and to put others down. They do not want to admit their sins or mistakes but try to justify themselves and blame others or the situations for the damage or failure.
“Incontinent” (akrates): without strength, unable to control one’s appetites. Many just love to eat and drink what they like although they know that it may not be good for their health. Many are addicted and enslaved to drinking and smoking!
“Fierce” (anemeros): not mild/gentle; fierce. Those who love themselves and are enslaved to their sinful nature cannot control their temper, so they easily and quickly get upset and angry when they are offended or criticised. Thus, we see domestic and social violence almost everywhere. The Jews were offended by Jesus teaching against sins and hypocrisy, so they fiercely tried to take away Jesus’ life! It is still true today.
“Despisers of those that are good” (aphilágathos): hostile to good men. The Jewish leaders envied Jesus for His holy life and fruitful ministry, so they hated Him, persecuted Him and crucified Him. Human nature is “enmity against God” (Rom 8:7). We should not be discouraged “because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).
“Traitors” (prodótes): give forward into another’s, give away; a betrayer, a traitor. Those who love themselves and money are willing to betray others for earthly gain. Jesus Christ was betrayed, so you and I should be prepared and wisely trust in God alone (Ps 118:8-9).
“Heady” (propetes): fall forward/rush headlong or out of control into matters. Those who are controlled by their deceitful, selfish and arrogant nature have so much confidence in themselves that they quickly rush into matters without careful thinking, especially patiently waiting for God’s guidance, help and timing!
“Highminded” (tuphóo): be lifted up with pride. With so much boastfulness, pride, arrogance and self-confidence, these self-lovers just highly think of themselves and lift themselves up. It is so dangerous as “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).
“Lovers of pleasures” (philedonos) “more than lovers of God” (philótheos). Many nowadays just love worldly pleasures (movies, entertainments, friends, parties, dancing, etc.) more than God and His Word. They do not mind spending their time chit-chatting with friends or watching a movie, but they have no time for God and His Word in prayer, devotion, and worship.
“Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” They only outwardly show that they fear God and love God but inwardly they have no spiritual power to truly fear Him or love Him. They have so much “confidence in the flesh” that they do not humbly seek God, His Word and His power in prayer, dependence, and submission. They “reject” God’s power! They are deceiving themselves by proudly thinking that they are good and godly while it is only an outward show!
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