For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
—2 Timothy 4:3 (NET)

We live in an era saturated with options. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find someone who’s willing to deliver it. And this isn’t just true of entertainment or politics—it’s deeply ingrained in the spiritual landscape as well. Paul warned that the day would come when people would stop tolerating sound teaching and instead choose voices that aligned with their preferences. That day is now.

Look around at the world of Christian teaching today. The Prosperity Gospel tells us we deserve wealth and health, avoiding Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow Him. Progressive movements twist Scripture to align with cultural trends, diluting or outright denying doctrines like sin and repentance. Celebrity pastors are often more concerned with followers on social media than faithful discipleship, trading the depth of the Gospel for catchy soundbites. It’s easy to see why these messages are attractive—they’re comfortable. They don’t demand much of us. They make Christianity feel more like a club and less like a covenant.

But what about the hard truths? What about the narrow path Jesus talked about? God’s Word isn’t a self-help book or a feel-good anthem. It’s sharper than any two-edged sword, exposing and cutting away the sin that keeps us from Him. When we surround ourselves with teachers who only tell us what we want to hear, we’re not pursuing God. We’re chasing after idols made in our own image.

This isn’t just a problem “out there” with false teachers. It’s a problem in our own hearts. Paul points to the core issue—desire. We like to hear what makes us comfortable, what makes us feel good about ourselves. But if we’re honest, the messages we seek often reveal where we’ve placed our hope. If you find yourself gravitating toward a teaching that conveniently avoids sacrifice, self-denial, or accountability, it might be time to ask: am I following God’s truth, or just my own preferences?

Faithfulness to God’s Word requires effort. It requires humility to hear what we might not want to hear and courage to obey it. The Gospel isn’t about being comfortable; it’s about being conformed to the image of Christ. That’s a hard road, but it’s the only road that leads to life.

Don’t settle for what feels good. Pursue what is true. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Let the Word challenge you, shape you, and draw you closer to the One who is Truth itself.