II Timothy 1:1-7
Timothy’s Faith and Heritage
II Timothy 1:8-12
Courageous and Shameless
II Timothy 1:13-18
Loyalty to the Faith
II Timothy 2:1-7
The Goal of the Soldier, Athlete and Farmer
II Timothy 2:8-14
Things We Need to Remember About Christ
II Timothy 2:15-19
Approved and Disapproved Workers
II Timothy 2:20-26
Separate Yourself from False Teachers
II Timothy 3:1-7
Turn Away from the False
II Timothy 3:8-12
An Example from Paul’s Life
II Timothy 3:13-17
The Value of The Scriptures
II Timothy 4:1-4
Preach the Word
II Timothy 4:5-8
Fulfill Your Ministry with Excellence
II Timothy 4:9-15
The Abandoned Apostle
II Timothy 4:16-22
The Importance of Getting Others Involved with You
The Goal of the Soldier, Athlete and Farmer
II Timothy 2:1–7
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Former Senator Dwight W. Morrow searched in vain to find his railroad ticket as he was on a train leaving New York City. “I must find that ticket,” he muttered. The conductor, who stood waiting beside him, said, “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Morrow. We know you had a … More
We do not get and keep the ministry for ourselves. It is our responsibility to guard and invest the Word in the lives of others who share with the next generation of believers (vv. 1-2). Paul uses three common illustrations to emphasize his point.
- A soldier - We are to “endure hardness” (v. 3). Some people think that the ministry is an easy job; however we see here there’s a battle and we’re to be a good soldier. A soldier is to be totally committed to his commanding officer and avoid the worldly entanglements (v. 4).
- An athlete - If a person strives as an athlete to win a game and get a crown he must obey all the rules (v. 5). Paul was saying to young Timothy. “The important thing is that you obey the Word of God no matter what people say.” This requires a Christian to have strong qualities of discipline, self control, endurance and a certain toughness.
- A farmer - The farmer is to be the first to receive a share of the crops (v. 6). The same idea is found in I Cor. 9:7. In I Tim. 5:18 “the laborer is worthy of his reward”. However he does not just produce fruit for himself but for others also (v. 7).
One thing remains in all three pictures. The soldier is upheld by the thought of final victory. The athlete is upheld by the vision of the crown. The farmer is upheld by the hope of the harvest. Each submits to the discipline and the toil for the sake of the glory which shall be. It is so with the Christian. The Christian struggle is not without a goal; it is always going somewhere. The Christian can be certain that after the effort of the Christian life, the greater the struggle, the greater the joy.Application
What do I have in common with the soldier, the athlete or the farmer in these verses? What don’t I have in common with them? My goal in life needs to be to please my Lord.
II Timothy 2:1-7 (English Standard Version)
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