Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4: 3,4

Some of the corporate training programmes would start with the Zen story, which is familiar to many. When the master continuously  poured the tea in the cup which was already filled, the disciple wondered why the master was  wasting the tea.  But the moral of the story clearly portrays  the expectation of the Master   to make the disciple understand that unwinding from the pre-occupied mind set can make him to learn ; otherwise, every single effort of master and the disciple goes in vain.  Similarly, in hearing God, pre-occupation in heart and mind results only in failure.

In Numbers 22  -24, Balam heard God that he should not go with the officials of Balak to curse Israel in the very first time itself when he inquired with Lord.(22: 12).  But the intention Balam was to go with the officials for getting the gifts from Balak (22: 19). When the donkey had spoken to foolish Balam, then only he could realize that he missed the voice of God in the second time.

II Tim 4:3 clearly warns about the time when people would be having itching ears so that they would accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wandering away to myth.  Today many are carried away only by the teachings what looks good to them, motivating and encouraging them.  But New Testament records with the occurrences wherein the community was cut to their hearts towards conviction and correction when they heard John the Baptist echoing God’ voice in the wilderness (Matt 3).  When Peter stood up to witness for the resurrection of Christ as Messiah, the crowd of came out with conviction for what they would do next (Acts 2:37). When Paul discussed about justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, with the governor of the state frightened ( Acts 24:25)

Friends, let us go to His presence with open heart, to receive the word as He wanted to speak us for making us wholly Thine.

Dear Lord, Let me come to your presence without any preoccupation in my heart and mind to hear the message that you provide to me.

CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional of CIM.