EXPOSITION:
These are Paul’s final words regarding Crete’s false teachers. He does not consider these phony figures to be true believers of Christ. They claimed to know God, but their actions proved that they were not genuine believers. They tried to prove themselves among men forgetting God is all-knowing.
We can never be entirely sure of what is happening in another person’s heart (1 Samuel 16:7). However, we can gauge others’ actions to see if they are compatible with a redeemed life (1 John 1:6). In this case, Paul sees no reason to think that these men are truly saved.
It exhibits that we are our own source of power but not God. Recent happenings even indicate that some men of God are their own source of power and by so doing make the congregation seek for them or draws attention to themselves rather than the creator (Colossians 1: 16-17).
In simple terms, cheap popularity replaces God and makes us the judge. We become those who determine another’s worth. We decide who is valuable and who is not. We get to act in a way that is favourable to us to gain fame. It is so offensive because it attempts to dethrone God and enthrone us. We should desist from this and be humble.
Cheap popularity often causes us to forget two crucial things: you are fearfully and wonderfully made with unique gifting and God gives us every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17).