What makes a "difficult" day? 2 Timothy 3-4

2 Timothy 3:1

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

If you asked most people to describe a difficult day, what would you get? Their car broke down? Their kid is failing Algebra? They lost their job? They have no savings account?   What would it be?   Paul tells us that in these last days there will be difficult times.    We all would define a difficult time differently. So, Paul goes on to tell us what he means by difficult times.  It is doubtful that his list would compare with most of our lists.   Paul gives us a list of 19 things that will characterize the end times and what he means by the phrase "difficult."  Note Paul's list:

2 Timothy 3:2-5

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self- control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Let each of us realize that our difficult times, unless they are characterize by this type of conduct, are simply minor discomforts.   God is interested in our comfort but not to the extent His Central Worship in our lives is hindered (see Haggai 1).   God does not want us to think of difficult times as a flat tire on a car.   God sees difficult times as a period where man has rejected Him.   We are in those times.  Are we concerned about them?  Are we grieved about the things on this list.   Those who want to live a holy life and are trying to live a holy life will be affected by this list.   These type of things are opposable to holiness.   The next time you have a "bad" day see if it is characterized by a life in opposition to the world and not a mere discomfort.  Standing tall in a slouching world would make for a difficult time.