October 1, 2026
Though he is a doomed and defeated foe, the devil delights in generating counterfeits to the gracious gifts that God provides. Nowhere is this more evident than when considering His greatest attribute, love. Whereas “God is love,” Satan couldn't be any further from it than he is. And yet, in a determined attempt to disillusion us, he’s the source of cheap imitations.
Paul addresses this dark side of love in the last of his 13 books. Here he writes, “In the last days difficult times will come, for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure” (2 Timothy 3:1,4). Let’s unpack this troubling trio below.
(1) “Lovers of self,” otherwise known as narcissism. This condition takes its name from the Greek mythological character Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and then changed into the flower that bears his name, the narcissus. This is a person who suffers from excessive self-love, self-centeredness, and self-admiration. A narcissist often exhibits an attitude of arrogance and entitlement, requiring excessive admiration and favorable treatment.
We’ve come to expect such displays in the areas of sports, entertainment, business, and politics. Unfortunately, it’s rampant in the church as well. Far too many ministers are preying on others rather than praying for them.
(2) “Lovers of money,” also known as materialism. The church started out with a group of lower-income people. Two thousand years later, we’re weighed down by affluence and apathy. It’s not at all uncommon for churches to have bank accounts that are full, yet pews that are empty.
As a quote I keep in my files reads, “Money grows upon men. They do not know how sweet it is until they have saved a bit, then they begin to be strangely enamoured. If they have not tasted blood, they have tasted gold, and a mysterious passion begins to awaken, the consequences of which none may foresee. It brings with it the sense of importance, power, large possibilities of honor, and indulgence, until in the end the man is mastered by it and ruined by it, as bees are sometimes drowned in their own honey.”
Never has there been a time we’ve had more but are enjoying it less. As has been said, “We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t know.” Jesus saw that coming when He proclaimed, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19,20 NASB).
(3) “Lovers of pleasure,” or hedonism. According to Webster, hedonism is defined as “the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life.” It takes its name from the Greek word hedone, which means “delight.”
In many ways, U.S.A. now stands for the United States of Amusement. Phones and television dominate our lives. Streaming choices are a major topic of conversation. I remember growing up with four channels, the three networks and one snowy local option. Needless to say, the options are now endless.
The Sabbath has become neglected, abused, and violated. For most people, Sunday has become like every other day, the second half of the weekend instead of the first day of a new week. Those who used to go to church two or three times a month now attend once or twice. Otherwise, it’s off to the lake, the mountains, or the ball game.
Don’t get me wrong. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” as the old proverb goes. I enjoy doing fun things and traveling to interesting places. Now in my retirement years, I realize that I should have spent more time creating a hobby or developing an entertaining and enriching outlet. At the same time, I can see that we barely have room for all the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years. Junk removal has become a thriving business.
Also, the Bible doesn’t say, love your neighbor instead of yourself, but rather “as yourself.” Before that, it reads, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30,31).
This bright side of love, peerlessly demonstrated by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is our only viable defense against the dark substitutes the enemy throws at us.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
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