Be Out Of This World

Reading from the book of 2 Timothy 3:1-5



 ¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.

We live in an unthankful and ungrateful generation.  It seems the more people have, the less they appreciate.  As believers, we are in the world, but we must strive not to be like it.  The more others around us complain, the more we should express gratitude to God.  Look around at our own conditions.  Do we have a roof, heat, food?  Be thankful for the provisions and blessings He sets before us.

 ³ Without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

In times such as these, you must stand strong in the truth of God's Word and have nothing to do with people who seem to be religious but do not exhibit true godliness or spiritual power.  Do not get into conversations that head toward strife.  Avoid controversies over things that really do not even matter and refuse to be involved in gossip and tale bearing, which are ungodly and unnecessary.  Do not spread rumors or tell other people's secrets.  These things cause an angry undercurrent and they hinder or eliminate God's power and blessing.  Many homes cannot prosper and be blessed because everyone is in strife.  Mom and Dad bicker and argue, the siblings argue and resent one another and nobody is happy but the devil.

Strife is very dangerous and that as servants of the Lord we must not be a part of it.  It is good and pleasant when brethern dwell together in unity.  Unity releases the annointing and it is also where God commands the blessing to be released. 
See Psalm 133.