Barack K'Owili posted: " This work comes as a sequel to the Signs of a Dying World. For consistency, read them in order. Image source: iStock You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days, there will be very difficult times. For people will love only thems" The Cleaver of Truth
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days, there will be very difficult times. 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. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [NLT 2 Timothy 3:1-5]
Self-love is a concept that needs a deep understanding. In modern times, self-love is being hyped as a means to maintain our mental health and peace. People are encouraged to be nice to themselves and reduce the stress and pressure that makes them worried about other people's issues. I definitely agree with this. We need to be a little kinder to ourselves. We can do this by practising a healthy lifestyle; Proper wholesome nutrition, a fulfilling night of rest, healthy relationships, and an active, healthy lifestyle. We can be more kind to ourselves by driving so close to God's appointed way that we become less exposed to the pains that are a sure token of a rebellious and godless lifestyle.
Conversely, self-love can also mean a selfish, self-centred life devoted to the service of self with no time, attention or care for anyone else. The Bible warns us about this and identifies it as the first sign of a dying world. As part of the difficulties of the last days, people will love only themselves. There is a lot of love in the last days, but this love has been enclosed in a self-centred pool without any more entry granted.
Have you seen it? The world is overrun by people practising healthy lifestyles but not caring about anyone else. Some people do not want to risk themselves or get into life-threatening engagements, but they can gladly expose others to the same if only it can benefit them. There are people who are working hard to secure their families, and they do this without caring about other families or at the expense of other families. Think of a caring father who is educating his children and taking care of family utility bills, yet secretly spoiling somebody's daughter, sister and niece who is at the prime of her youth. What about a hardworking businessman who pays a meagre hand-to-mouth salary after overworking his employees? So Paul warns Timothy that the last days' people will love only themselves. The last days' people are so loving, caring, and extremely nice, but the object of all these kind gestures is the self.
Self-centredness also demonstrates itself through an insatiable desire for attention. People want to have themselves attended to without thinking about others. This results in a bunch of irritable folks with delicate egos and superiority complexes. They see the world through the lens of self and will not accept anything that the self does not endorse. Such people will vehemently oppose an idea because it is not theirs but will support even worse thoughts so long as it is theirs. Such people are fulfilling the fact that in the last days, people will love only themselves.
There is another self-centredness that is subtle and not easily discovered. It has to do with just ignoring people arbitrarily. It can be done in person or online space. Have you ever done it to someone? Wrong question; we do it all the time. Have you been a victim of the same? If you have been a victim ignored by someone blatantly, then you understand what I am talking about. The discomfort that comes with a blatant snob can only be compared with the discomfort that comes with the silence that follows a missed joke. Any adverse ignorance of efforts made by other people to seek our attention or help fulfills the fact that in the last days, people will love only themselves.
Ellen White wrote in her timeless book The Desire of Ages a powerful statement that should accompany these thoughts on lives based on self:
"There is nothing, save the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours forth that element of life without which neither man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains, receives the streams from every land, but takes to give. The mists ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud." —The Desire of Ages. p. 20
Two preening lovebirds against black background. Lovebirds are a social and affectionate small parrot native to the African continent.
Elephant spraying zebras with water to keep them away from waterhole
Guanacos in the Pampa of Agentina
Two Crested Caracaras shares a perch
This is the dominant male Elk of a herd living at Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California - late in the afternoon, he is watching over the herd
Nature is an open book to anyone who is struggling with self love...
A life that is centred on self will only be intruded upon by a saviour coming in Glory with all the Holy Angels and sounding trumpets. To a life centred on self, the second coming of Christ—which to the faithfuls of all ages is the blessed hope—is bad news. When Christ shall come, many things that have absorbed us to enclose ourselves in the comfortable and easy chair of self will not lose their value. Instead, they will occupy their rightful place (which some people call losing their value), and many will realize that most of the things that have driven us to love the self only were not worth the time and the effort they got from us.
You should know this, dear reader, that in the last days, there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves...
Stay tuned for the next piece in the series 'Signs of a Dying World' entitled "Signs of a Dying World II; Love For Money."
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