“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.”
2 Timothy 4:10
We find that Demas is mentioned three times in the New Testament, with commentaries agreeing that all three most likely refer to the same man. Beyond Timothy, we find Demas as a travelling companion with Paul in ministry, noted in Col. 4:14, and the letter to Philemon notes Demas as a fellow worker.
In Timothy, Paul indicates a past tense working of Demas’ love, i.e., ‘having loved’ as the explanation for his desertion. While the word is commonly used to describe the love God has, we learn that Demas has first and foremost deserted this love for God, before he has deserted Paul.
From Helps Word Studies in the Discovery Bible Software, we find the word deserted defined as ~ 1459 egkataleípō (from 1722/en, "in"; 2596/katá, "down"; and 3007/leípō, "to leave") – properly, left in a condition of lack ("without"); hence, to feel forsaken (helpless), like when left in dire circumstances. Jesus uses 1459/egkataleípō ("left forsaken") in His cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Paul’s letter to Timothy tells us why Demas has deserted him; Demas preferred ‘the world and it’s ways above the way Paul taught in Jesus. Guarding our hearts from a love and preference for anything other than our Father's will is a daily task.
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From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 382). T. Nelson,~
“Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”
Our affections are tempted. The Apostle James wrote in his letter that it is the desires of our flesh that open the door for our temptations, James 1:14. Temptations are a good system check on what we are holding in our hearts and minds Living in the world, surrounded and inundated with worldly thoughts and ways, we must choose to overcome by drawing near to God and resisting the devil.
Desertion cannot occur without first leaving our first love. The book of Revelation warns the church about their lukewarm love. Repentance was required. Our first commandment is to love God with all of our being: spirit, soul, mind, and strength. Every part of man’s makeup is to be in love with our Father and His Son. Jesus said If you love me, you will keep my commandments. He reinforced this command to love by saying, ‘Love even as I have loved you.’
Demas preferred the world, in contrast to Moses’ choice for reproaches of Christ over the treasures of Egypt, Hebrews 11: 24-27. Like Moses, we must make choices to leave one to embrace the other. Jesus said, when it came to treasures of one's heart, you love one and hate the other…preference. Mt. 6:19-24.
So, Demas ,‘having loved this present world,’ begs us to ask what it was he was so attracted to in this world that it cost his relationship with Paul? We often believe the lie that we can separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters in the Lord and carry on in our love for God, but that’s a lie. It’s the thing about deception; you can’t see it. You think you are right with God, but in reality, there is no right with God without doing right with people. You don’t forsake divine relationships without first forsaking the supreme one.
Staying united with our Father in His love holds us tightly to a love for our brethren and assures us that we will not depart from either one.