2 Timothy 2:1-7
2Ti 2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2Ti 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
2Ti 2:5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
2Ti 2:6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
2Ti 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
The beginning of 2 Timothy starts with a three-headed metaphor that Paul writes to his close companion in the faith, Timothy. This small metaphor goes deeper than the surface. This is hinted at by Paul when he says to Timothy in verse 7, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” I think that if we can grasp and apply what Paul is teaching Timothy, we can walk in more freedom and more joy with Christ.
2Ti 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
What does it mean to be a good soldier?
Soldiers are single-minded. They have one objective in which none of the details will sway them from. Though the plan may change on the battlefield, the objective never does. What is our objective? The most obvious answer here is, “The Great Commission.” But even higher than that, there is an objective that The Great Commission is born from. Consider Hebrews 12.
Heb 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Our objective is the full on pursuit of the only right and true thing, Jesus Christ; to pursue an ever increasing Joy in his person and in his work of redemption. Hebrews says that we are to run at Jesus; not walk, not jog, RUN.
Are we single minded in objective? Is our ultimate in everything that we do the full on pursuit of Him, despite a change in our situation or opportunities? Is there any objective proof in our lives outside of church that shows that we are seeking after Him above all else? Outside of “church activity,” do you hope in Christ? Is He in your conversations? Is He in how you spend your money? Is He in the things you take pleasure in? Is He in the way you look at the world around you? Take a moment to examine your life.
Paul gives us a little bit more.
2Ti 2:4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
No soldier gets entangled in CIVILAN PURSUITS. Hebrews 12 talks about entanglement.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
God states in Hebrews that it is not only sin that entangles or hinders us but that it is also “everything” else that keeps us from our objective. It seems like when we think of the things that keep us from growing in Christ, it is always the sin in our lives. “If only I could overcome my lack of self-control.” “If I just got over being lazy.” "If I could just get a grip on my lust issue…" I would contend that the things that primarily keep us from our intimacy with God are not necessarily the bad but the morally neutral things in our lives.
“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world.”
-John Piper, “A Hunger for God”-
Morally neutral things keep us from becoming the men and women in Christ that we want to be. Television, food, money, friends, nice houses, entertainment, music, athletics, etc. in and of themselves are not bad things. But when they take the place of our objective, we wrap ourselves up in these civilian affairs, and the focus on our objective blurs and fades away.
Take time to think through some of the civilian affairs that you take part of that may be robbing you of your joy in Christ Jesus. What must you do to grab hold of our objective as believers?
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
-The Apostle Paul, “Philippians 3:8”-
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