It is a subtle trap, not one that I believe we can attribute to our adversary, though I am quite sure that if he witnesses the man of God walk into it, he will assist that man in whatever way possible. This pitfall is in relation to 2nd Timothy 4:3, but in a more personal way.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
That man will begin to believe that what is important to him is indeed important to all, he will start to scratch his own ears, listening to his own heart which will deceive him every time. One small drop of pride in that vast ocean of pride that he keeps at bay will find its way into his heart, and he will start to believe that what he believes to be of value in relation to the Word of God in his own life is of great importance to all that will attend his words, that will listen to him from the pews, that will read his letters.
In that man whose heart is indeed set on lifting up the name of the Almighty in all he does, if he does not recognize this subtle trap when it arrives, he will find the inverse of Philippians 2:3 becoming a truth in his life.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
By finding temporary relief from his own itchy ears, he will be deceived into believing that he has found the relief needed to those he has been called to serve. The cause will seem just and right, and he will use the Scriptures in an attempt to verify what he believes is a necessary sermon, a necessary part of the words spoken, a needed letter.
And in every case you will find the way of the world hindering, if not blocking, the way to that strait gate.
It seems right to bring up the path the world is upon, the rise of the sodomites, of law breakers being allowed to roam freely, of the evil intent of those who are in positions of authority, of the growing number of false prophets, of how wickedly the wicked are behaving, of every possible atrocity of this cursed planet.
But what happens is we set the world first in the eyes and ears of those who would listen, who sit in those pews, who would read these letters, and set Christ last.
I realize this trap, yet have walked willingly into it many times, scratching my own ears and believing that those who have read these short letters have found relief.
“Look at the world, see how evil it is, and then run to the Most High.”
When we should never have left His side, when our cause should always be the Lord Jesus Christ.
I call it a subtle trap, because I am well aware that many will not hear sound doctrine, but they will listen, and that intently and continuously, of the woes of this world.
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
It seems right and proper to reveal the evil first, and then the righteousness of the Most Holy One, to show the path the wicked men are on, and then reveal the path the just are to walk. We scratch our own ears, believing those who are in attendance have that same itch.
Those who have been justified, who have been born-again care little about the path this world is upon, they seek the face of God, of the means to grow in the knowledge of His grace, of how to be even more submissive to His will in their lives, of how to obey in love, to be profitable for His Kingdom for His glory. Not what the world is doing, but what the Lord Jesus Christ would have them to do.
The man of God will recognize this trap and avoid it.
