Encouragement to be Faithful
2 Timothy 2:1-6, 11-13
Introduction
2 Timothy contains Paul’s parting words to his younger associate, Timothy. By “listening in”, we can gain wise and godly counsel that is as relevant to us today as it was to Timothy in the first century. This is a powerful manual for spiritual combat. It encourages us to be diligent and courageous to make the most of the opportunities that God has given us.
Main
Who was Timothy?
OCCUPATION: Leader in the early church
BEST KNOWN FOR:
· his close relationship to Paul
· being a second-generation Christian*
· his leadership in the church despite his youth
* Father was a Greek, mother was a Jewish Christian
2:2 “Thou hast heard of me among many witnesses” Refers to Paul’s preaching and teaching, which Timothy had heard repeatedly on all three missionary journeys. Paul is saying here is that all the preaching and teaching that Timothy had heard could be used to “teach others also”. You could say it was a type of work experience for Timothy…in a way. Basically, this is Paul’s advice to a young teen.
2:3 – 6 Paul gives three examples for Timothy to follow: (1) a soldier who wants to please his commander; (2) an athlete who follows the rules of the game; and (3) a farmer who works hard.
(1) Paul often used military illustrations in his letters. This is not surprising since he lived in a military state and was in prison himself. He described as a “good soldier of Jesus Christ”
He endures hardship (v. 3). In our daily lives as Christian teens we have many trials and sometimes even get persecuted. What are some areas that we have to face these struggles? Work, School, Home?? But a dedicated Christian is in a battle that requires spiritual endurance. This implies that every Christian must expect some kind of ill treatment, just as every soldier does. It does not mean that just because you are a Christian you have it easy and you’ve got nothing to worry about.
He avoids worldly entanglements (v. 4). He is totally committed to his Commanding Officer, the One who enlists him. In our case, this is Jesus Christ. Such service of the soldier demands complete separation from worldly business, single, whole-hearted devotion to obeying and the fulfilment of one’s commanding officer. What are the different areas of our lives that are caught up in the world? Maybe it’s a video game, our friends, the music we listen to. All these things just act as stumbling blocks on our walk with Jesus Christ, just like the barbed wire the soldiers get caught up in, we too get caught up in these worldly things. What I am saying here is that we should set apart our focus on the things of this world, and totally commit ourselves to our commanding officer, Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)
He is focused (v. 3-4). In both these verses it says that we (Christian teens) will go through trials, but before we all lose hope, there is a great truth in all of this, and that is, if we put all our focus on Christ and not ourselves we can survive these things. SS “Himpossible” (Mat. 19:26)
(2) Paul sometimes used athletic illustrations in his writings – wrestling, boxing, running, and exercising. The Greeks and the Romans were enthusiastic about sports, and the Olympic and Isthmian games were important events to them. Same thing with us today. You can’t be a good basketballer without enough practice. And even before a game, you can’t go in cold, you need to do some stretching and warming up. Paul had already urged Timothy to exercise like an athlete (1 Tim. 4:7-8). Now Paul urged him to obey the rules. The winner was given a crown or a garland as his prize. Or today a trophy or gold medal. In the NBA, the team that wins the championship wants to hold the trophy, cut down the net, etc. But for the team to obtain the prize, they must’ve won it fairly. The team should’ve played fairly and not committed anything that would’ve hindered their chances in attaining their chief objective, which is, the trophy and earning the right to be called the champions. Paul was a winner because he had kept the rules laid down in the Word of God, and someday he would receive his reward from Jesus. Paul was saying to Timothy, “The important thing is that you obey the word of God, no matter what people may say. You are not running the race to please people or to get fame. You are running to please Jesus Christ.” There is one verse that comes to mind when I hear the words running the race and that is Heb. 12:1b-2. There is one main difference between the athlete used here and us. It is, that the athlete that wins, gains the crown or trophy, but every Christian who strives loyally in the contest will be crowned.
(3) This is another image used in Paul’s letters. Paul once compared the local church to a cultivated field in which all the believers worked together (1 Cor. 3:5-9). Each Christian has his particular task to perform – plowing, sowing, watering, or harvesting – but it is God alone who gives the increase.
“The husbandman that laboureth” basically means ‘the hardworking farmer’. If you he were to leave the field to itself, it would produce mainly weeds, so the farmer must not slacken off. This is the same thing with the ministry. A pastor and the church members ought to be ‘hardworking farmers’ in their own spiritual fields, just as the farmer is in his field. There are two applications that can be applied here. 1) It relates to our personal life, and 2) Relates to others. Remember, whatever a man sows, he shall also reap. If you sow to your flesh, you shall reap corruption, but if you sow to the Spirit you shall reap everlasting life. If you sow rubbish, you reap rubbish, if you sow good fruit you will reap good fruit. So how does this apply to you? Well it applies to a lot of areas in your lives. It could be sharing the gospel with your friends, and planting the seed. Or inviting them to youth group or church or church related activity. It could be the testimony you show them.
A farmer needs patience. “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7). A farmer cannot expect to plant a seed one day, and have a full crop the next. You’ve also got to be patient with your friends. You can’t expect them to come for one youth group and be saved, continually invite them and from there you will see what happens. You have to sow the seed in their hearts and pray that you may reap a new person. This deals mainly with others.
A farmer deserves his share of the harvest. (2 Tim. 2:6) Paul is stating here that a faithful pastor ought to be supported by his church. “And, The labourer is worthy of his reward” (1 Tim. 5:18). Something else is true in this image of the farmer: The spiritual leaders who share the Word with the people are the first ones to enjoy its blessings. The preacher and the teacher always get more out of the sermon or lesson than do the hearers because they put much more into it.. They also get great joy out of seeing planted seeds bear fruit in the lives of others. Farming is hard work, and it can have many disappointments; but the rewards are worth it. Not only will you have shared the Word with your friends, you would have also learnt more about God’s Word, so both parties benefit. This deals mainly with our personal life.
There some promises in this chapter, and they can be found from verses 11 to 13. They tie in with the sowing and the reaping.
· We be dead with Him, we will live with Him
· We suffer, we will reign with Him
· We Deny Him, He will deny us
· If we believe not, He cannot deny Himself
Conclusion
This message might have inspired you to go and be a minister or teacher in the Word of God, or it might have totally put you off the idea of the ministry altogether. But remember to keep in mind whether you are a pastor, musician or a church attendee, God has called us all to be faithful followers of Him and prepare to take what the world throws at us. Remember, we can all be like Timothy and be an obedient soldier, a fair athlete and a diligent farmer if we simply put our trust and faith in God. I will finish with this verse,
Therefore said he unto them, the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2)
