This morning I felt led to read from Paul's second letter to Timothy. The verses I am considering follow - 2 Timothy 2:1-7 NIV:
[1] "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2] And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. [3] Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. [5] Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. [6] The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. [7] Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
I like the fact that Paul calls Timothy to reflect on what he is saying, and that is what I am going to do. Paul starts this section calling Timothy to recall the things that Paul has taught, and to make sure that he passes that knowledge along to others who can teach. That is pretty straight forward, and simple to understand.
Next Paul brings up three analogies, a soldier, an athlete and a farmer, as examples to Timothy of how to join Paul in suffering like a good soldier. This is where these verses caught my attention, and where I will spend my time. The Greek word used by Paul, here translated suffer, is Sugkakopatheo and it basically means endure hardship and trials with another. Paul then goes on to apply this to the soldier, athlete and farmer, so we have context for what he means.
This is not suffering or enduring hardship for the sake of suffering, but rather is goal or function focused. The soldier trains, so that they are physically and mentally prepared for battle. The training is hard, and one must endure it to become successful and a member of the army (or whatever branch of service you are in). The athlete, similarly endures sometimes years of training and honing their skills to reach the level that could receive the victors crown. The farmer, likewise works hard to tame the soil and prepare it for seed. Plowing and planting and picking weeds is definitely hard work, but the goal is the harvest. So we can conclude that Paul is encouraging Tim to press in and not be afraid of the difficult task of evangelism and discipleship - but the goal is the eternal harvest, the victors crown and hearing the Lord say, "Well done!" The hardships endured are related to dying to oneself, loving others and serving others, sowing and cultivating the word, being long-suffering and patient, gentle and forgiving in the face of persecution and attack. None is easy, but again there is a goal to be focused on.
Paul also adds some interesting commentary to all three analogies - the soldier doesn't get entangled in civilian affairs, the athlete must follow the rules and the farmer is the first to receive a share of the crops. At first glance my mind wants to just pass these by as nice descriptions of what we already know, but I believe the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these little statements because of the additional truth He wanted to reveal to us.
Starting with the soldier, the encouragement is to stay focused on the direction and commands of his commanding officer (in this case Christ Jesus). Not that civilian affairs are less than a concern, they just aren't supposed to be worried about by the soldier under command. His job, his only job is to due those things entrusted and commanded by His commanding officer. I believe Paul's encouragement here is for Timothy to keep focused on his call and commission, not getting embroiled in more civilian concerns. Timothy was clearly continuing Paul's apostolic work, and that work could become side-tracked by local church issues, arguments over terminology (as we see later in this chapter) and the like. In other words, stay focused on what the Lord has called you to do. In the same way, we are called by the Lord into fields of influence (family, friends, coworkers and such) and we have been called with a purpose. Paul's encouragement to us all is to stay focused and not to get distracted.
Secondly, Paul describes the athlete as only attaining the crown is he plays by the rules (and is the best at his particular event). In the day of athlete doping, steroids, and other cheating scandals, we can understand some of what Paul is concerned by. There is often a pressure to cheapen or weaken the Gospel message, or maybe to compete with others for numbers of followers, or to promote oneself to the exclusion of the Gospel. We could also add the dangers or unrighteous behavior, those things that would disqualify a minister. All of these are ways that the rules are broken, and the Gospel is compromised. Paul continues on from the verses calling Timothy to maintain the purity of life and the simple Gospel, and to have nothing to do with arguments, godless chatter and disagreements over words and terminology. Again the encouragement is to focus on the task, spreading the Gospel and continuing the apostolic work.
Additionally, the danger for anyone who is pursuing greatness (winning the victors crown) is pride. We begin to think that we are someone special, that we don't need to follow the rules, that training isn't required, that our greatness adds weight to our words, that our success allows us to command a certain amount of respect and authority. All of these will draw one's attention away from what is most important, and what one has been called to do. Then when distracted and unfocused, realizing their predicament, the only way to maintain one's position and pride is cut corners, cheat a little, etc. Our call to follow Christ Jesus is a call to integrity in all things, and is not a competition. Whether our task is share the Gospel with one other person or one million, we are equally important in Christ's eyes.
Finally the encouragement from the example of the farmer is that they get to share in the harvest first. This is somewhat similar to the athlete in that there is a reward for the hardship endured. The sharing in the harvest seems to me to be related to seeing the fruit of his labors. He gets to witness the changed lives, the lives impacted by the Gospel, the lives changed and restored, healed and prospering. He gets filled up by the food of doing God's will, as Jesus stated in John 4:34 NIV: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." There is joy in doing the Lord's work, in seeing the fulfilment of His call on people's lives, spoken forth personally. It is awesome to experience the Lord using us to expand the Kingdom! This is sharing in the harvest, in seeing the joy of the master of the Harvest.
I am reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 25:21 NIV: “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" What an awesome promise that we get to share in the Master's happiness!
In summary, I am encouraged today to continue to pursue the Lord, to pursue the commission (orders) He has given me. I know that it won't be easy, that I must remain focused and undistracted and endure, but the goal is sharing the Master's happiness, and that is one awesome goal.
Amen!
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