2 Timothy 2:1-7 (2)

How can we live faithfully as Christians?  It will help immensely if we are doing what it is that Jesus called us to do.  We tire ourselves out if we are doing more than we should or things that don’t really contribute to our assigned task.

Paul’s charge to Timothy is fully in sync with Jesus’ command or commission to His disciples.  Jesus charged them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … teaching them (Matt. 28:19-20).  Disciples making disciples is the plan with the process involving the public expression of faith through baptism and the faithful teaching of all things that He commanded.  Another way of saying this is: the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  Paul is talking about the pattern of sound words (1:13) as the content that is to be passed on.

Paul uses three illustrations that help us see how we are to do the ministry Christ has given to each of us.

·        You might have thought the illustration of the soldier was going to be encouragement to fight hard.  But instead it is used to tell us we must be focused on our commanding officer.  We are not to allow ourselves to be doing other things so that we are not available to Him when He directs us.  Clearly this goes to the issue of faithfulness; our work needs to be the work of Christ.  Good things cannot be allowed to take the place of the best things.  Acts 20:24 gives a powerful illustration of how Paul applied this principle.

·        Paul often used the illustration of the athlete.  In 1 Cor. 9:24-27 he uses it to encourage discipline and that might be the sense in our passage.  However the reference to the rules probably means you have to run the race or play the game properly.  In our ministry this fits since we must do it properly.  For example, Paul said that he did not use flattery so as to get more money from people; he did not try to please men; and he did not teach that which was in error or deceitful (1 Thess. 2:1-12).  That kind of ministry lends itself to unfaithfulness and would not have allowed him to finish well.

·        The farmer reminds us of something vital in the area of faithfulness.  We should not be surprised if we do not see immediate fruit in our ministry.  It is typical that planting and watering must be done and then there must be time for plants to grow.  It is the same in ministry.  Jesus says we were chosen to bear fruit that remains (John 15:16).  We will be helped in the matter of faithfulness if we remember that God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

Jesus promised that as we carry out the ministry He commands to be done that He will be with us (Matt. 28:19-20).  Let us, like our Lord, be able to say at the end of our lives, I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4).