The Bible Speaks of Itching Ears
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV)
“We live in a day of itching ears. But I have no commission from God to scratch them.” (Leonard Ravenhill)
Impoverished Christianity
The Message Bible puts it this way:
You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. (2 Timothy 4:3 Message)
Junk food is delicious; we don’t have to cook and it satisfies our cravings for salt, sugar and fat.
But it quickly empties our wallet and doesn’t nourish us.
Following a false teacher excites us, because they tell us what we want to hear. But over time it leads to disillusionment, depression and a defeated, bankrupt life.
Our God will not be used.
The Cure for Itching Ears
There’s no over-the-counter cream or prescription medicine which will treat itching ears, because it’s not a physical condition. Instead it’s a heart problem.
The only cure is repentance.
Are you sick and tired of worshiping your own little idol? Because demanding that the Lord of the universe live to please you doesn’t work out very well.
Start Over
Be willing to pray to the Holy Trinity and say,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I want to know You as You are, not as I’ve imagined You to be.
Then begin reading the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the true character of Jesus and God our Heavenly Father.
Our Savior didn’t die to give us more earthly toys. Instead Christ came to give each of us a radically transformed, inner life.
But He will never scratch itching ears.
I downloaded this image from Pixabay.com.
