Failing To Listen To God

We can't afford to "turn away our ears" - not even when our critics are immature, ignorant, or evil. God can speak through anyone. Don't forget Balaam's donkey. (Numbers 22)

2 Timothy 4:1-4

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul solemnly charges him to preach the Word and to reprove and rebuke with great patience. (2 Tim. 4:2). As pastor could hardly have a more difficult assignment than this because few people respond well to reproof. What you do when you are reproved is a pretty good indicator of the quality of your Christianity. The Bible tells us that he who hates reproof despises himself while he who loves it will acquire understanding and dwell among the wise. (Proverbs 15:31-32)

Every time reproof comes our way, we stand at a crossroads of possibilities for great good or evil. We can embrace the correction and grow up, or we can reject it and start down the slippery slope described in 2 Timothy. Here Paul outlines the behavior of those who become tired of reproof. He says they will turn from sound doctrine and embrace those who "tickle" their ears. (v. 3) This means that they will hunt for a church or religious teachers who fail to apply the whole counsel of God. They "will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." (4) Most people in this state probably couldn't trace how they went from truth to myths, but it could have started when they rejected some hard saying from the Bible or ignored good advice from a critic.