But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Timothy 3:1 – 5

Have you ever seen a list like this before?  Who is Paul describing?  He goes on, almost endlessly, people will love themselves.  They will be lovers of money. They will enjoy boasting.  They will be proud, looking down on others, abusive in language and attitude. They do not respect the wisdom of their parents, but disobey with sadistic delight!

They will be blessed but not satisfied, always wanting more for themselves.  They will hardly ever utter the word, “holiness,” because they have not the slightest notion about what the word means, much less how it may apply to them.  They may sing the word in a song but it has no real meaning for them. Holiness is not in their vocabulary at all.

As to simple virtues, they distort the meaning of love and make it self-centered.  They hold grudges and refuse to forgive one another, least of all, themselves. They slander or gossip about one another as murderers slowly murder their victims.

All of this to be expected because they have no self-control, they simply get swept along by what is the current trigger for delight. Even dumb animals live with more regard for one another than they do.

They twist the meaning of good, and turn all ethics into fantasy.  To them, what is good to do is what pleases them most, regardless of how it might affect others or their Creator God.

All of this seeking after pleasure and self-interest leads to treacherous, rash, conceited behavior.  In summary they love pleasure more than they love God and they must, above all things, despise those who are humbly trying to obey God.

They try to put on the appearance of serving God when, all the while, they are simply serving self. They want to appear to be lovers of God but are in fact godless.

Have nothing to do with such people.  But, Paul, we are surrounded by such people, and in all honesty, now and again catch ourselves siding with them!  At times, “they” describes “us.”

Lord, sweep our hearts clean of all that displeases you and restore a right mind and heart to us by the power of your Holy Spirit.