2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Have you ever been to a concert but the artist was not performing the songs the audience wants. Soon enough the audience begins to chant the song they want the artist to sing because that is what they came to hear. The artist has no choice but give in to the demands of the audience.
Sometime it becomes so in our churches….
The Bible warns us of a time when people will reject sound doctrine, and it seems we are living in that very time. In today’s information age, it’s incredibly easy to access any information we desire with just a click. This convenience has led many to seek out teachings that align with their personal desires rather than the truth of God’s word.
People often avoid sound doctrine when it challenges areas of their lives they would rather not address. Instead, they seek out teachers who tell them what they want to hear. The Bible describes this as having “itching ears.” Rather than embracing the full counsel of God through His undiluted word, many prefer messages that soothe their egos and assure them that everything is fine, regardless of their actions. After all, they reason, isn’t God a God of grace?
This mindset has allowed deception to flourish. Many are exploited, particularly financially, by those who have mastered the art of deception. These deceptive leaders prey on the fact that many do not read the Bible for themselves, relying instead on pastors whose words they take as absolute truth. This has given rise to doctrines that promise prosperity and peace, leading many to part with their hard-earned money.
Do you have itching ears? Are you inclined to seek out teachers who preach messages that you want to hear?
Reflections
1. How would you determine if a message you hear is wholesome and healthy for your spiritual life? Do you have a “measuring stick?
2. What is an example of a questionable teaching you have heard recently, and what makes it questionable?
3. What must you do to ensure that you stay on the straight and narrow road that leads to life?
