Three Roles And None Easy
2 Timothy 2:3-7 NLT
3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
Paul encourages but does not sugarcoat anything for Timothy. He encourages Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ and then uses three different roles as metaphors for Timothy to emulate.
Endure suffering or hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Nothing easy about that. And don’t just deal with the hard times but make sure you stay focused on your mission. Paul was reminding his young friend that soldiers don’t get entangled in the affairs of everyday life in order to please the one who enlisted them. There is a whole lot in those verses. Paul is admonishing Timothy to think as a soldier thinks. Soldiers don’t think fighting is easy, and soldiers stay focused if they are going to be good soldiers.
Compete like an athlete. A good athlete is another role that is not easy. Athletes train and have to stay disciplined. Paul also reminds Timothy that athletes compete according to the rules. An athlete just can’t do anything they want if they expect to win. Timothy was reminded to play by God’s standards, not his own.
A hardworking farmer should be the first to receive his share of the crops. I am not certain about what Paul was getting at here. It may be that Timothy was reminded that he must sow the right seeds because you eat what you sow. I do know that farmers work hard. We had a small garden when I was in my teens, and it convinced me that the farming life was not my calling.
Paul may have sensed he was a bit over Timothy’s head with these metaphors. We can all understand the toughness required for soldiers, athletes, and farmers. But Paul did tell Timothy to think about these three things, and the Lord would give him understanding. I find myself in that category. I need further understanding of how our role as believers fits in with the soldier, athlete, and farmer. If you have insight into these areas, shoot me an email at pastor@thearkchurch.com. But this much I know, Jesus never promised us an easy life. He promised a meaningful life if we follow Him. And that life is worth the hardship, focus, and hard work any day of the week.
Prayer
Lord, I ask You for greater insight as to how these three roles fit into my life following You. Thank You for greater understanding.