Itching Ears

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)

It is 604 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, wakes up from a dream. He is so disturbed by the dream that he can’t sleep. He has an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach that he can’t seem to shake off. He calls for the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and the astrologers. As they enter his presence, he sees men who are “yes men,” who would say anything to appease him. Men who seek help from their gods and, if they don’t answer, are willing to fabricate lies. The king is agitated. Their bravado and self-satisfaction annoy him. Despite this, he feels he needs to consult them. After all, who else can he turn to? But he doesn’t just want to be appeased. He wants to know the truth about his dream, which he believes has great significance for both the present time and the future. He knows that only then will his anxious thoughts be calmed. He realises that the only way he can know that they are telling the truth is if they reveal not only the interpretation, but the dream itself (Daniel 2:1-8)

Quick Answers

The king knows that the “wise men” are prone to deception, yet he consults them. He feels he has no one else to turn to. We may feel this way when we find ourselves in desperate situations. All we want are quick answers that will appease us and allay our fears. We want quick answers that will tell us what to do and what the future holds. So we look for answers beyond the boundaries God has put in place. We look for answers that will give us a quick boost. That will gratify our itching ears.

Perhaps we gratify our itching ears by reading the horoscope section in a magazine. By consulting a tarot card reader or astrologer. By having the tea leaves in our cup “read.” We justify it by saying, “Everybody does it.”

We may even gratify our itching ears by listening to those who preach a gospel other than that of Jesus Christ, or who preach doctrines that satisfy the flesh, but don’t talk about living a life fully surrendered to Christ. We become enamoured by the preacher, and we forget to test what is being preached against the Word of God. Galatians 6:8 (NLT) says,

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Unlike King Nebuchadnezzar, who felt the need to consult his deceiving “wise men,” we have our omniscient and omnipotent God to consult. We have His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Only then will our souls be truly satisfied.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NIV)

Reflection:

Have there been times that you have allowed your itching ears to be gratified by deceiving words?

Prayer:

Forgive me, Lord, when I have sought quick answers outside of Your boundaries. Help me to turn to the truth of Your Word. Lead me by Your Spirit of truth so that I will not allow my itching ears to be easily gratified. In Jesus’ name, amen.