It's all about love! If we would just learn to love one another, the world would be great....Love conquers all. Come on, people now....smile on each other---everybody get together, learn to love one another right now....Lofty sentiments from hearts that don't really know this Jesus.
Two kinds of love...
Good kind, also known as "GOD" kind...
And the Bad kind, which usually is born in hearts that are under the influence of our old sin nature.
Bad love is selfish....
Bad love only reaches out to others when it needs something from them...
Bad love uses people, and when push comes to shove, it will abandon everyone to save itself.
Don't need any bad love in my life.
Addiction is fueled and stoked by "bad love"....
Now with this in mind, we do see the first words to II Timothy 3....
In the last days perilous times shall come....
Events, situations and circumstances will show up on all our doorsteps to overtake us...
One version of Scripture translates "perilous" as "Stressful". In other words, what is going on in the lives of people will uncover and reveal their hearts. The real "US" will be brought to the surface. No more hiding...no more covering up...The human heart will be shown for what it truly is. I don't think this is going to be a pretty picture. In fact, we see that every day through the words, actions and behaviors of addicts.
V.1 - People will love only themselves- The need for drugs and alcohol trump any need the family may have. We will abandon them in order to chase the dragon. I can't tell you the number of stories I have heard of parents taking their kids with them to score some drugs. And all the while feel like they are really good parents. No thought to the kids, other than "I can't leave them at home alone. I could get in trouble." But the love of self to get what "self" needs trumps the needs of the kids. Like I wrote earlier, self will use everyone around in order to get its needs met.
People will love money - you know the weird part about this verse? You don't have to have money in order to love it. Just the thought of being rich becomes so powerful in a dark heart, people will do whatever it takes to possess it. Here again, doesn't this go back to a heart that is selfish? I think maybe yes.
They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God - I see this a lot with guys who come in for treatment. When they are with others, they tell of how they can out drink, use more than anyone else. Been to jail and prison more than anyone else. Slept with more women than any man alive. O.D'ed more than anyone else....you get the picture. As the Scripture says, "They revel in their iniquities.
Disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred - Here again, that old heart of sin/selfishness rules the day. Mom and Dad are there to be used. If they don't meet the standard, then we drag out that tired old line...."You don't really love me. If you did, you'd do what I ask of you".
The list from II Timothy 3 goes on, and ends with this....
They will act religious, but they will reject the POWER that could make them godly - Dark hearts and dark minds are good at playing. They can become penitent at the drop of a hat (especially when caught in something spells trouble). These know all the religious jargon....they can ever sing the 3rd verse to Amazing Grace...but they know nothing about the POWER that is God. The POWER that could set them free and transform them into a life that is beyond any thing they could dream or imagine.
The very last part of Verse 5 is a warning -- "Stay away from people like that!"
Sounds cruel....
Doesn't sound like something you'd hear in church, does it?
Bottom line, if you are trying to help someone who is living in addiction, and they show no remorse or desire to change.....let go of them. You cannot help someone who doesn't want help, other than what they can gouge you for. You cannot save someone who doesn't want to be saved.
Yes, pray for them....
Yes, love them.....
We build bridges to help, but if that person leaves and crosses over to that old life, my job is to simply wait for them to return for the help they need.
Hard truth on a Friday morning....
Thanks for stopping by the Greene Street Letters.
God on you...
mbb
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