According to the apostle Paul, the last days would be marked by an ever greater love for pleasure than a love for the Lord. This lack of love for the Lord might manifest itself in various ways but ultimately results from a heart problem. For instance, an individual might forsake Bible reading or prayer in order to enjoy some form of amusement. He might choose not to take part in his church’s outreach because he is instead consumed with pleasure-seeking. He might forsake the assembling together with the saints of God in a worship service because he is consumed by seeking out worldly entertainment. Though men justify these things, this is an open manifestation that men choose pleasures over the God who sent His Son to die for their sins.
Every Christian is called to be a servant of the Lord toward others. In this service, God specifically instructs us how to serve in the right way and with the right spirit. The Bible shows us that God’s servants should be “gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” Additionally, believers should instruct in meekness “those that oppose themselves.” Unfortunately, God’s people often struggle with balance and overcompensate or undercompensate in their dealings with the lost or the backslidden. For instance, Christians sometimes allow the wicked to gain control when they fail to respond. Those who do speak up sometimes oppose their adversaries with a vengeful anger. Neither extreme follows God's precepts. As God’s servants, we are to respond to others in God’s behalf using His methods. God desires to give the lost and the backslidden “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” so “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” We should strive to assist in bringing about God's desired outcomes.
