7.7.24 2 Timothy 2:1–13 (EHV) Trinity Ev. Lutheran, Bay City
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Entrust the things you heard from me, in the presence of many witnesses, to faithful men who will also be able to teach others. 3 Share hardships as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of everyday life. If he does, he will not please the one who enlisted him. 5 Also, if someone competes as an athlete, he does not receive a crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should receive a share of the crops first. 7 Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, a descendant of David, in accordance with my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, along with eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy: Indeed, if we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him; If we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself.
Be What You Are Called to Be. Let God Be God in the Process
Years ago, professional basketball player Charles Barkley made waves when he publicly declared, “I am not a role model.” Yet many young basketball players looked up to him and wanted to emulate his game. It was just that he didn’t WANT to be a role model, even though he was, for better or for worse. Some of the biggest problems in life come from people who don’t want to be what they are called to be. When young fathers and moms don’t want to take on the responsibility of their children, when they want to act like kids when they’re not.
Paul wanted Timothy to think about his position and his role as a young pastor. Entrust the things you heard from me, in the presence of many witnesses, to faithful men who will also be able to teach others. He was being called on to teach other young men so that they too could be faithful leaders. In order to do that Paul told him to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” He had to be confident in who he was as God’s , forgiven, called and chosen servant. People would be looking up to him, listening to his teaching, counting on him for guidance. He couldn’t be shy about it, in spite of his age.
In some aspects that’s what God wants from all of us. Don’t be apologetic about being a mom, a student, whatever role you may have in life. It may be difficult, but embrace it. Try to work on your calling and hone your skills. Be confident in what YOU have and use it to the glory of God, in line with how HE tells you to be and act.
Paul warned Timothy of the dangers that would be involved with his calling as a pastor. God’s Word is compared to dynamite, and if you’re called on to blow stuff up, well, people are going to get angry with you, especially when you blow up their system of who they are and how they live. He lived in blatantly immoral times, and Christians were far from popular for their views on sex and marriage, not to mention who Jesus was. The Jews and the Gentiles hated them. That was the pattern of how it always works in our world. In our 1st Lesson from the book of Ezekiel, God said to Ezekiel, “Do not be afraid of their words, and do not be intimidated by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. You are to speak my words to them whether they listen or they do not, for they are rebellious.” (Eze 2:6–7) (And that was the Israelites, who were supposed to be GOD’S people.) Jesus, of course, was crucified as He called out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. Paul himself was imprisoned several times for what he preached. All of the disciples were put to death, except for John who was exiled to the island of Patmos. So Paul was being honest with Timothy. This would be an easy thing to be a pastor.
What kind of dangers are involved in being a Christian today? It depends on how outspoken you are with your beliefs. You could lose your job if you buck the system during pride month, refuse to wear the rainbow flag maybe. You could get banned from Facebook over what would be considered inflammatory or hateful remarks. I wonder if we denounced pride month on our electronic sign what would happen. Would it be vandalized? Would we be picketed? Would our Facebook page get inundated with accusations of being a hate filled church?
You can start to get paranoid about that stuff, but God doesn’t want us to live our lives in fear. Instead, Paul told Timothy to do the exact opposite. First and foremost, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Know who you are in God’s eyes by staying in the Word and sacrament. You are His adopted child, loved by Him, cherished by Him, wanted by Him. He has given you salvation and earned it on the cross. Heaven is waiting for you. So if the Almighty God loves you, what does that matter in comparison to anyone else’s opinion of you?
Paul compared Timothy to a soldier going into battle. A soldier needs to be disciplined. Paul had certain principles for Timothy to live by. These aren’t just applicable to pastors, but to everyone. First thing? Be focused on your calling.
No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of everyday life. If he does, he will not please the one who enlisted him. Paul was saying to Timothy, “You are here to serve the Lord by taking care of the church. So don’t get wrapped up in everyday life things. You might think of house improvements, parents, politics, food, sports. You have a congregation of people to take care of with the Word and sacrament. That should take precedent.” If you’re struggling, your pastor should want to help and prioritize you.
Apply this to your life too. Take a man who loves softball or bowling, but he then schedules five nights a week to go out and do these things when he should be spending more time at home. Or a student who is supposed to be studying for school but spends all of her time on social media instead. There’s a happy medium, a line that often is crossed when something that is good and enjoyable is given TOO MUCH of a priority. Your relationship of the LORD should be first and foremost in your life, including your worship attendance. Does the Third Commandment come with a rider? Remember the Sabbath Day, except when you’re camping? Except when you’re out late the night before? Except when there’s a tournament that weekend? Except when you’re tired? No. You’re in a battle here, a war against the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh. It takes discipline to resist and to do what you’re called to do.
Principle # 2, play according to the rules.
If someone competes as an athlete, he does not receive a crown unless he competes according to the rules. In other words, Paul was Timothy not to gain a following by short-cutting God’s Word and telling people what they want to hear. Don’t rely on entertainment over the Word of God. Know the Word well, and use the Law and Gospel faithfully. If people need to hear the Law, then use it. Don’t be ashamed of what the Word has to say when it comes to sex, roles of men and women in marriage, or anything else for that matter. Don’t be apologetic about preaching Jesus as the only way of salvation. Use what you’ve been given. If people are turned off by it, so be it.
That applies to you as well. Do you participate according to the rules in your relationships? Or do you cut corners sexually well before marriage? How do you expect to find a God pleasing partner when you don’t even consider His Word in choosing who to date? How do you expect your marriage to work if you don’t apply the principles of patience, and kindness, or don’t want to live according to the roles laid out by God Himself of head and helper? How can you expect to get ahead in life when you don’t live within the means that God has given you, when you spend more than you make? How can you expect God to bless your work when you don’t show up on time or slack on the job? We look for ways to cut corners, instead of just using the direction given us in the Word, because that takes consistent and sometimes painful WORK. But lo and behold, His work is the way it works best. Play according to the rules.
The third principle could be interpreted in a number of ways. The hardworking farmer should receive a share of the crops first. This could be either materially or spiritually. Spiritually, when a pastor studies the Word in order to preach or teach it, he gets the first fruits of the crop. He applies it to himself and grows from what he learns. He gets to think about it more and chew on it more. This also could be referring to being willing to receive compensation from the congregation. Perhaps Timothy was shy about receiving compensation since Paul didn’t. But Paul in multiple places says that a minister shouldn’t be ashamed to receive a living from those he feeds with the Word, so that he can give his full time to preaching and teaching. Timothy shouldn’t be ashamed to receive from them, and they shouldn’t be hesitant to reward their preacher for the work he is doing among them.
And if that’s what God wants for His called workers, then you have a part of that as well, in the way you budget your own offerings, so that our pastors and teachers can be paid for what they do. God has called us to provide a treasure of the Word for you, and this ought to be your most cherished treasure.
Sometimes, when you’re in the midst of doing what you are called on to do, it is easy to forget WHY you’re doing it. What’s the use? Why was Timothy called to be a minister? Paul said it simply. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, a descendant of David, in accordance with my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, along with eternal glory. Don’t forget, this is all about Jesus, who died for your sins and rose from the dead. You need his grace and forgiveness every day, for your lack of discipline, your lack of fight, your sins of mis prioritizing your life. Don’t forget that you aren’t serving a dead God, but a living Lord and Savior, ruling in the heavenly realms, for YOU. Don’t forget about the power of the Word of God. Timothy, you aren’t dealing with a weak thing. You are dealing with powerful dynamite, which forgives all sins, cleanses hearts, changes lives and saves souls!
Think of what happened with Paul! Even though Paul was imprisoned, he used that time to write more books of the Bible, and those books still speak to us today. That Word is still read and studied to bring people to faith and help them grow in faith. In the end, while trying to shut him up, Paul’s imprisonment ended up unleashing an eternal power on the world! They could chain up Paul, but they couldn’t chain the Word. Timothy needed to remember that! And Paul reminded Timothy, don’t forget who you are making these sacrifices for, God’s elect children - so that they can end up in heaven and obtain Christ. Eternity is at stake here - heaven and hell - this is serious stuff.
Remember that as a parent with your children. There’s a reason you bring them to worship. You want you and your children to hear that powerful Word of God, so that you can all obtain salvation in Jesus Christ. You don’t want to see yourself or your children in hell. Don’t forget the eternal consequences of what is at stake here, for us and for our salvation. There’s a glorious cause here, a noble cause, a saving cause - with eternal glory.
I can remember growing up, shooting baskets in my driveway, envisioning making the winning basket at the last seconds. Everyone cheering! When someone would drive by, I would envision that it was a talent scout for the NBA. I’d stand at the end of the driveway, launch a basket up, hoping that it would swish and I would then get recruited. Visions of grandeur! How much greater was the vision that Paul wanted Timothy to envision his calling as a pastor, being able to bring people to faith and keep them in the faith against Satan and his temptations. What could be more glorious than to hear Jesus say on Judgment Day, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” It makes all of the coming to worship, all of the prayers, all of the studying the Bible, all of the Christian education worth it. On Judgment Day, Jesus won’t say, “Did you make the travel team? Did you retire at age 65 with a fat bank account? Did you travel the world? Were you popular? Rich or poor, well traveled or not, that ultimately has nothing to do with it. It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith. That’s it. Pure and simple.
So Paul concludes with a well known and trustworthy saying that was going around back in his day. It was worth quoting. Indeed, if we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him; If we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself. What was his point? In the end, God will be God. If he died as a result, so what? He’d live with Jesus for eternity. If he had to endure a bunch of garbage throughout the coming years and be treated like a slave? So what? He’d reign eternally in Christ. But what if he ended up denying Jesus? What if he backed down in fear? Well then, he’d be disowned too. Why? Because God is God, and God doesn’t lie. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe, will be condemned. He doesn’t decide to give you a mulligan if you want to disown Him. But that means the opposite too. When you confess Him and cling to Him, through faith in Christ, you can have no doubt that He will stick to His promise too. You will be saved. Whoever believes and is baptized WILL be saved. That’s God’s promise.
Who knows what kind of difficulties and struggles we will have in the days and years to come, as the world goes from bad to worse? In the end, God will be God. He doesn’t change. We don’t need to try to make Him more amiable, more kind, more gentle. Let God be God, in all of His holiness, anger, mercy, and grace. Trust in His Word and use it. Be who you are called to be, according to God’s Word. If it’s a pastor, teacher, mother, father, son, daughter, worker . . . stick with what you’ve got, Christ crucified and risen. Don’t back down from the opposition. Don’t worry about the consequences. Let the Word fly. Drop the bombs of God. See what God does in the end, and enjoy the show! Amen.
