Paul’s encouragement to Timothy sets the path for our discipleship

By Dean Collins

It sounds a little odd for a grown man to be calling another grown man, “my child.” In today’s culture that might be at minimum an insult and probably some serious breach of cultural correctness. But as Timothy read those words in the letter Paul his mentor in the faith wrote, he was not insulted. Timothy likely felt encouraged by his father in faith. Paul was in an ongoing relationship of discipleship with his young protégé.

Timothy would soon be without his mentor Paul. He would also be facing new and more difficult challenges in his ministry, and his older and wiser mentor was trying to prepare him for the journey yet to come. The first step was for Timothy to remember not only that he was loved by Paul but he would now and forever more need to find his strength in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus was then and is now enough, no matter what we face.

Timothy had listened to Paul’s public teaching and read his letters. Paul wanted his disciple to understand that everything Paul had taught and shared needed to be shared with others for their growth and development. God doesn’t teach and grow us simply so that we are well fed and happy. He grows us so that we can strengthen and grow others.

Three examples

Paul used three examples in the first 13 verses to show Timothy what he needed to remember: a soldier, an athlete, and a hardworking farmer. Paul was clear that the path of service and ministry was not going to be fluffy or easy. His examples were honest and direct.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus,” he wrote. The path of a disciple is a path of suffering. Yes, there is so much more to the faith journey. There is the grace of Jesus, which is both our foundation and our strength. But grace allows us to share in the suffering of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that in this world there would be many troubles but that he had overcome the world. But we must walk our roads of difficulty and suffering in the grace of God. As we do, God does his work of transformation in us and through us.

Paul warned Timothy, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” Our objection might sound like this: “I signed up to follow Jesus, but I don’t work at the church. I’m a coach, a teacher, an entrepreneur, or a fill-in-the-blank.” Yes, and you are first to be a disciple who is focused on the kingdom of God. The other matters are secondary. And everything we do should be done in a way that honors and gives glory to God. When we live like that, we will avoid the thousands of opportunities to get involved in things that detract from the kingdom and do not advance it.

Paul then says this about the athlete: “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” Paul wasn't suggesting that Timothy carry around stone tablets of rules or countless scrolls that he checked constantly to see if he was following the official rules of ministry. Being strengthened by the grace of Jesus should translate to the commandments that Jesus gave: Love God and love your neighbor. When we live by those commandments, we will play by the rules.

Paul then turns to the example of the hardworking farmer. “It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” That example is a head scratcher at first. Is Paul saying that farmers eat first? The farmer is the one who put in the hard work, so yes, he should be able to enjoy the fruit of his labor. But I don’t think that’s Paul’s point. It makes better sense to say Paul means that the rewards of ministry and discipleship will surely come. However they come, it will be after we work and not before. We keep our hand to the plow and in due time we will receive and enjoy the reward of the harvest.

Understanding from God

Paul was direct with his instructions but he told Timothy, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” That is excellent mentoring advice. Don’t just do what I say. Think about it. Pray about it. Consider my example. Consider the example of Jesus. After we take the steps Paul suggested, it will be more clear how we are to behave in the given moment and what path we should travel next.

Paul was in prison as he wrote to Timothy. His ministry work may have been confined, but it was not ineffective. Paul relied on the power of the resurrection, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the trustworthy and unbound Word of God to fuel his ministry. Standing and strengthened by the grace of Jesus, Paul endured and even flourished. Paul’s words to Timothy can guide us as well. “If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”

So strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, may we soldier on and watch what God does in us, through us, and for his glory!

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-13‬ ‭ESV

Photo by Pixabay at Pexels

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