2 Timothy 4:9-11 Do your diligence to come shortly to me:… I. MANY OF YOU ARE YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE BEEN RELIGIOUSLY EDUCATED IN SOME DISTANT HOME, AND HAVE BEEN SENT HERE, OR HAVE COME HERE, FOR THE PURSUITS OF BUSINESS. II. CONSIDER, DEAR FRIENDS, WHOSE CONSCIENCES DECLARE YOU TO BELONG TO THIS CLASS, WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE FORSAKEN, OR ARE FORSAKING. 1. You are forsaking honour and conscience. 2. You are forsaking the company of those you most respect. 3. And not only so, but you are forsaking the pursuits which will most ennoble your natures. 4. But worst of all, in forsaking religion, you are forsaking you God and Saviour. III. TO COMPLETE THIS SUBJECT, LET US ASK FOR WHAT, CONSIDERED AT ITS VERY BEST, YOU LEAVE ALL THAT IS BEST AND NOBLEST AND HIGHEST? Demas had forsaken Paul, because he loved the then present world. I suppose that, in some shape or other, is the reason why you have forsaken religion to the extent to which you have forsaken it. It is really Satan's trap into which you have gone; but the bait has been this present world. You do not love penury, disease, privation, remorse, anguish, death. Oh, not at all I you love pleasure, success, money-getting, if you can get it easily. All the other things, the dark sides of this present world, drunkenness, debauchery, covetousness, immorality, over-reaching, you are net in love with these. No! You are lovers of pleasure, according to your idea of pleasure. Suppose you could gain the world, the whole world (and at best it will be an utterly unnoticeable and infinitesimal portion of it you will ever get), and in the chase should lose your own soul! (R. T. Verrall, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: |
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