Misplaced Priorities

  • Carlton Williams
  • Feb 17, 2009
  • Series: Chew On This

2 Timothy 4:10  ‘for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica…’

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

The word ‘forsaken’ is taken from the Greek word egkataleipō and it means, to desert, leave helpless, or, let one down.   Demas had deserted Paul and he did it at the worst possible time, when Paul needed him most.

Demas had been one of Paul’s most dependable and trusted helpers. Paul had mentioned him twice before.  In Philemon 24 Paul had referred to him as a ‘fellow labourer’.  In Colossians 4:14 Paul extends greetings from Demas to the church at Colosse.  

The word translated ‘forsake’ here is much stronger than ‘to let one down’, the meaning commonly used today.  It means ‘to forsake one who is in a set of circumstances that are against him’.  This accurately described what Paul was going through.  He was in a Roman dungeon awaiting the executioner’s axe. He had gone through his preliminary hearing with Nero and was waiting for the final hearing where he would eventually be sentenced to death and beheaded. Paul’s freedom was curtailed, and now someone in whom he had trusted had let him down.

Why? The verse tell us, ‘…having loved this present world.’  Demas had had enough of the pressure, of the struggle, of the opposition. The word ‘world’ here could be better translated, ‘this age’ – this present world’s philosophy, priorities and opinions.

The enticement of the world’s system is strong. This is the environment in which we live and work.  We inhale its values everyday and have to make continuous decisions about whether or not we are going to embrace its priorities.  Demas loved what the world had to offer and made a decision: he forsook Paul, he forsook the work of the gospel and departed for more pleasurable terrain where the going was good.  He chose convenience over destiny and temporal pleasure over eternal reward.

Notice Paul calls it ‘this present age’.  It is not the ‘only’ age but the ‘present’ age. 
In 2Corinthians 4:17-18 Paul states, ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ 

This age, with all it has to offer, is temporary.  Time is a substance God has given to humanity in which we determine our eternity.  Your decisions here determine your rewards in eternity. The pressure we go through in fulfilling God’s will and embracing His priorities here, constantly ‘work’ a far more exceeding and eternal reward!

Though Paul was deserted by his closest and trusted helper when he needed him most, he remained steady right to the last, faithful to the end, with his eyes on his eternal reward. He said in verses 7 and 8 of the same chapter, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…’

Don't be a Demas, be a Paul.  For every pressure of obedience, there is a credit in your ‘reward account’ in heaven!  This isn’t some ‘pie-in-the-sky’ notion, this is as real as it gets.

Get your priorities right, focus on the eternal prize!