DAD'S RAMBLNGS -- THE EASY WAY

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE EASY WAY

"...Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica…." (II Timothy 4:10).

"Then Christian and Hopeful left them again and walked until they came to a smooth plain called Ease, where they traveled with much contentment. The plain was quite small; so they went quickly through it. Now on the far side of that plain was a little hill called Lucre, and in that hill here was a silver mine, which some of the pilgrims had turned aside to see. Then I saw in my dream a little off the road, over by the silver mine, stood the gentlemanly Demas calling to passersby to come and see."

The lures to get Pilgrim to wander off the straight path are an ever-present temptation. If it seems that Bunyan is obsessed with the temptation of this world's goods (see DR 071020), it is because it is one of the main lures. In the Scriptures, Demas was one of those who got sidetracked, lured away by the things of this present world (II Timothy 4:10). Demas was a believer who is mentioned in two other places in Paul's letters as a fellow-laborer (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24). But somewhere along the line, his love for the world captured his heart. In the King James, the Greek word lucre means more than just money. It is a word that combines "filthy" with "gain." It is dirty money. God is not against His people having money. It is the "dirty" money that is the problem, perhaps from dishonest dealings or indicating greed or excess love of money (I Timothy 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7; I Peter 5:2). The NKJV captures this thought in Titus 1:11, where it translates the Greek word "dishonest gain." Many a Believer has been lured away from the path by their love of material things. Bunyan calls it a pit to be avoided. Many have fallen into the pit. In his naivety, Hopeful would have succumbed to the call of Demas, but for the wisdom of Christian.

God is not against us being prosperous. It is when that becomes our purpose, goal, and affection. Wisdom in our use of money will keep us from falling into the pit.

Love, Dad