2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
Human beings were created to be social. We need each other and we seek out for each other. We find meaning in each other’s company. When we start withdrawing from others and prefer loneliness it could be a sign of mental illness or a cry for help over a matter that is overwhelming us. We need people in our lives and others need us in their lives, but not all people are good for us. Have nothing to do with such people!
It has been correctly said that if you deal with crooks you must expect a crooked deal. It has also been observed even in scripture that bad company corrupts good morals, 1 Corinthians 15:33. Therefore, while we need people in our lives, we must carefully select who those people are. Some people will be the reason for your misery instead of excellence. Have nothing to do with such people!
No one is immune from bad influence. Children and teenagers are affected by peer pressure. Young adults, adults, and even senior citizens can be influenced by their peers. We all have a responsibility to be keen on who we listen to. If anyone has tendencies that will harm us, we should avoid them immediately. Have nothing to do with such people!
Our Bible text today is a conclusion of a long list of characteristics that if anyone has we are to avoid them totally. We can evangelize them but we cannot take them in confidence as friends and partners to go with through life. The Bible is very clear in our text today on what we should do to these people. Have nothing to do with such people!
Who are these people? These are people who love themselves, love money, they boast, they are proud, they are abusive, they are disobedient to their parents, they are ungrateful and unholy, 2 Timothy 3:2. If anyone has such characteristics, the Bible has one piece of advice for you. Have nothing to do with such people!
New Living Translation
For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
Amplified Bible
For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,
Contemporary English Version
People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless,
These people could be neighbors. These people could include a potential fiancee. These people could be potential partners for business. These people could be colleagues who try to be friendly and rope us into their circles. If they have these characteristics, the Bible has firm and serious advice for us. Have nothing to do with such people!
If you find people who are without love, people who are unforgiving, be very careful about them. Be careful about anyone who is slanderous, anyone who lacks self-control, people who are brutal, and those who don’t love good, 2 Timothy 3:3. The Bible has a message for you if these define your friends and daily companions. Have nothing to do with such people!
New Living Translation
They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.
Amplified Bible
[and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good,
Contemporary English Version
heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything good.
2 Timothy 3:4-5 gives further characteristics to watch out for. People who are treacherous. People who are rash. People who are conceited. People who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. People who have a form of godliness but deny its power. God asks us in very clear terms to treat these people in the following way. Have nothing to do with such people!
New Living Translation
(4) They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
(5) They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Amplified Bible
(4) traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God,
(5) holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.
Contemporary English Version
(4) They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.
(5) Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real. Don’t have anything to do with such people.
The Bible wants us to look out for these characteristics in people. Do these characteristics define your friends? Do these characteristics define the man or woman you are preparing to get married to? Do these words describe the members of the social media groups you belong to? Do these words describe the people who you listen to, read from, and follow on social media? The Bible gives you free divine advice. Have nothing to do with such people!
Even if they offer you a lifetime opportunity, have nothing to do with such people. Even if this is the ultimate deal that looks like will turn your life around, have nothing to do with such people. Even if they make promises and swear by God, have nothing to do with such people. Even if they are religious and respected by many, have nothing to do with such people. Even if you have been lonely and desperate for companionship, have nothing to do with such people. Can it get any clearer? Have nothing to do with such people!
The people we hang around and get influenced by will determine whether we succeed or fail in life. These same people will determine whether we will have a future of joy and gladness or a future of regret. The company we keep has sway on our future. May God grant us grace to keep the right company and keep off from the people that God has warned us from, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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Thank you!
Glory to God!