Demas Loved This Present World II Tim. 4: 10 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In 2 Tim 4:10 Paul said, “For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.” The problem that led eventually to Demas’ departure is a problem that had started long before Demas left. “Having loved this present world”… this world, not the one to come. That was down in his heart and at some point it finally came out. You’re going to choose to love one or the other… the present world or the world to come.
Demas’ love for this present world caused him:
To forsake his ministry – “for” – contrast Demas with Mark. In 2 Tim 4:9 Paul told Timothy to come shortly unto me “for” Demas hath forsaken me. In 2 Tim 4:11 he asked for Mark… he is profitable to me for the ministry. Paul’s concern about Demas wasn’t just personal. He needed some help and Demas wasn’t there to do his part, to help him [Col 4:14; Phile 24]. He left a hole in the ministry.
To forsake his master – “Demas” – his name means “popular.” If you are going to gain popularity with this world, you are going to lose favor with God. Jas 4:4 friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 Jn 2:15-17 love not the world… if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
To forsake his mentor – “forsaken me.” Whatever the immediate cause of him forsaking Paul, whether he was afraid that he might meet the same fate or he didn’t like the results of his association with Paul, the underlying motive was his love of this present world. He forsook Paul. Paul had poured his life into him. “Forsaken” me… this wasn’t a defection like Mark’s early return to Jerusalem. He “departed” meaning he went away from him. This is what Mark had done initially [Acts 13:13, 15:38]. This was a forsaking. To forsake means to renounce or turn away from entirely. You don’t do that to Paul.
To forsake his mandate – “having loved this present world.” Titus 2:12 says, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world.” Those lusts are listed in 1 Jn 2 [The lust of the flesh – what I want to feel; the lust of the eyes – what I want to have; the pride of life – what I want to be]. There is an element of self-denial in discipleship [Matt 16:24-25, “let him deny himself”]. There is a reason for this denial. Gal 1:4 says, “who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.” Demas ignored Col 3:1-4, to set his affection on things above. He lost sight of the Lord’s appearing and the judgment seat of Christ. He messed up on 2 Tim 2:12.
To forsake his mates – “is departed unto Thessalonica.” He wouldn’t find any comfort in the church of the Thessalonians. They suffered persecutions and tribulations for the kingdom of God [2 Thes 1:4-5]. He didn’t go there looking for a good church [2 Thes 3:5] that loved God and waited for Christ. Mk 10:29-30 tells us that we leave houses and brethren in this world and receive a hundredfold with persecutions AND in the world to come eternal life. Demas wouldn’t take the persecution with his mates.
Conclusion: what’s down in your heart? What’s your choice? This present world or the one to come? If you have to be either, be Mark, not Demas.