Three roles – soldier, athlete, and farmer – were used as illustrations for how Timothy (under the apostle Paul’s mentorship) should live in 2 Timothy 2:4-6. These roles were discussed in the previous articles, but let’s step back and ask: Do people stepping into any of these commitments typically expect things to be easy? [ref. Moss, p.205] I don’t think so.
- The soldier knows that he or she is putting their life on the line.
- The athlete knows that training will be required to win.
- The farmer knows that the crops won’t grow themselves.
Similarly, following Jesus provides joys and blessings that can’t be found anywhere else, but those who sign up should know what they are agreeing to. It’s a complete turning over of our lives to God, in return for being made into something new (and far better). It requires work to be “successful” in God’s kingdom (even when our success is defined by whether or not we are doing what God asks of us), but it is worth the effort.
So, what do we do with these examples from 2 Timothy 2:3-6? There is much to learn, especially if we appreciate the context in which they were written, and if we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us about this Scripture, but I propose the following summaries for your consideration:
- Avoid distractions. Don’t separate yourself from lost souls who need Jesus, but don’t let a fading, fallen world consume your limited time to make a difference for eternity.
- Follow the rules. Don’t run outside of your lane, like changing the gospel of Jesus. Don’t run a different play than your coach tells you to, like trying to force yourself into a ministry that God isn’t calling you to or disobeying a clear instruction that He gave you.
- Work hard, but don’t be afraid to enjoy the blessings that God gives you. Don’t give up and miss out on the good things that God has prepared for you, even in this life.
- And, remember why we hold to the truth: for the salvation of as many people as we can introduce to Jesus, all to the glory of God.
Pay attention, but don’t let the truth just bounce off of your cranium, or go in one ear and out the other. Think about it. Ponder it. Wrestle with it. Evaluate it. Reflect on it, just like Paul told Timothy to in the next verse:
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ti.2.7.NIV
And, don’t just think that you can figure it out on your own.
The Bible tells us about people who couldn’t understand events and plans from God that are obvious to us, now. We benefit from history, having learned how God revealed more of His plan for humanity over time, as well as having Jesus’ perfect example for us. Followers of Jesus also have the advantage of the Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Word. (Having said that, I don’t think that the Holy Spirit tells us everything, since He knows best what we need to know at a given time. However, when we don’t listen to Him, we are definitely limiting what we can learn.)
Still, even with all of this extra help, we still need to ask God for His direction and aid, concerning both His plan and the execution of that plan. As His children, He is not obligated to tell us everything up-front, but we are expected to trust Him for as much of the path as He chooses to light for us each day.
So, meditate on God’s Word. I know that pausing and not “doing something” or “being busy” all the time can be difficult (at least, it is for me), but let God’s Word sink in sometimes, and let Him give you understanding.
Now, I understand that, in many faiths, meditation is about emptying your mind. (Jesus talked about that, at least how I interpret passages like Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26.) In Jesus, though, meditation is focused on God: His nature, His word, His creation, or other aspects of Him and His actions. In fact, the next couple of verses include some specific information that Paul told Timothy to remember.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
2 Timothy 2:8-9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ti.2.8-9.NIV
The role of suffering for the truth might not sound like a good recruitment slogan for following Jesus. Remember, though, that Paul didn’t address this letter to an unsaved world (who didn’t yet know Jesus), but rather to Timothy, a son in the faith who understood why the gospel was so important, and who had experienced just how much greater a life with God was, compared to the alternative.
- Jesus Christ was worth Paul’s suffering.
- The salvation that Jesus brought – for Paul and for others – was worth the cost of Paul sticking to the truth.
- The Word of God – embodied in Jesus – was so important that Paul was OK being bodily imprisoned so that the Word could be freely distributed.
Paul was already spiritually free in Christ, and he wanted others to experience the same thing. His short-term incarceration was trivial compared to that, and no matter what you and I may suffer for following Jesus Christ, He is worth anything that this world can throw at us. That is worth meditating upon!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 23, 2025
References:
- 1717 Bible Studies, 2 Timothy, © 2025 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1, 2 Timothy & Titus, by C. Michael Moss. © 1994 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 