Thursday, August 19
Read II Timothy 2
Think About It:
Paul did not want Timothy to have an identity crisis, so he carefully explained what a pastor is and does. Verses 1-2, the steward. Verses 3-4, the soldier. Verse 3, he endures hardship. Verse 4, he avoids worldly entanglements. Verses 8-9, he magnifies Jesus Christ. Verse 10, he thinks of the whole army. Verses 11-13, he trusts his commanding officer.
Paul sometimes used athletic illustrations in his writings – wrestling, boxing, running, and exercising. A person who strives as an athlete to win a game and get a crown must be careful to obey all the rules of the game. From the human point of view, Paul was a loser. There was nobody in the grandstands cheering him, “for all they which are in Asia” had turned away from him (2 Timothy 1:15). He was in prison, suffering as an evil doer. Yet, Paul was a winner! He kept the rules laid down in the Word of God, and one day he would get his reward from Jesus Christ. Paul was saying to young Timothy, “The important thing is that you obey the Word of God, no matter what people may say. You’re not running the race to please people or to get fame. You’re running to please Jesus Christ.”
The farmer (verses 6-7) deserves his share of the harvest. The “hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops”. Paul is stating here that the faithful pastor ought to be supported by his local church. Paul deliberately gave up his right to ask for support so that nobody could accuse him of using the gospel for personal gain. But this policy is not required for all of God’s servants.
The workman (verses 14-15), the pastor is a workman in God’s word. The word is a treasure that the steward must guard and invest. It’s the soldier’s sword and the farmer’s seed. But it is also the workman’s tool for building, measuring, in repairing God’s people. The preacher and the teacher who use the Word correctly will build their church the way God wants it to be built.
The vessel (v 19-22). The great house (the church) not only has a solid foundation that is sealed, but also has vessels (utensils of various kinds) for performing household functions. Paul divides the utensils into two categories: those of honor (gold and silver) and those of dishonor (wood and clay). He is not distinguishing between kinds of Christians, but rather is making distinction between true teachers of the Word and false teachers he described. A faithful pastor is like a gold or silver vessel that brings honor to Jesus Christ. The head of the household displays his costliest in most beautiful utensils and gets honor from them. False teachers are not valuable; they are like wood and clay. They are utensils of dishonor, no matter how popular they may be today. Wood and clay will not survive the test of fire.
It is worth noting that the name Timothy comes from two Greek words which put together mean “God-honoring”. Paul was encouraging Timothy to live up to his name!
The Servant (verses 23-26) is the Greek word for doulos which means “slave”. Paul called himself “a slave to Jesus Christ”. A slave had no control of his own; he was totally under the command of his master. Once, we Christians were the slaves of sin, but now we are the slaves of God.
God’s slave does not have an easy time teaching the Word. Satan opposes him and tries to trap his listeners (verse 26). Also some people are just naturally difficult to teach. They enjoy “foolish and stupid arguments” (verse 23 NIV) and have no desire to feed on the nourishing Word of God. But keep in mind, the servant of God must instruct those who oppose him, for this is the only way he can rescue them from Satan’s captivity.
Our role is to support the pastor and ensure we do our part to keep our own firm foundation. We will also then feed and be nourished by the Word of God.
Family Time:
- Read to your family: 2 Timothy 2:19
- Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Discuss with your children:
- Sometimes we complicate our relationship with Christ. The Lord does know who are His, and those who are His children have a mark on them. The mark is simply this: If you say you are a Christian, then stop sinning!
- What does this verse look like in your own life and their lives? “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient” II Timothy 2:22-24 .
