Despisers of Good

257 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 3:1-3, “ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (2 Tim 3:1-3) Next on the list of strength sapping influences and behaviors in the church is despisers of good.” The King James says, “despisers of those who are good.” To despise someone or something that is good is to look down on with contempt. It's hard to imagine that a church can actually have such people in their midst. How can a supposed follower of Christ look down on what is good or good people? An example of such a person is Diotrephes found in 3 John beginning at verse 9: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.” So the first calling card of those who despise good is they love to have preeminence and anyone who threatens their preeminence is not received in Christian love and hospitality! A close parallel of this trait is found in the relationship between the scribes, the Pharisees and Jesus. Think about it. The real reason they sought to get rid of Jesus was their preeminence among the people was being threatened by Him and all His goodness! Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, a definite good thing, but it was despised by the religious rulers as we read in Joh 11:47,48, “ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 "If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." The chief priests and Pharisees were concerned about losing their place, their preeminence. You can spot these despisers of good by their obsession with having preeminence and it's assorted perks. They are not interested in differentiating between good and evil, only in twisting the Scriptures for their own fringe benefits. They are described to a tee in Lu 20:46,47, “ "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."” These pompous pretenders will sap the strength of the church as they seek to lead it to truth twisting compromise in order to keep their place of preeminence that helps line their pockets and their egos!