A Spiritual Treasure
2 Timothy 2
Caree Connolly
In Chapter 1 of 2 Timothy, we learned about Paul being in prison for his faith and
having a pure conscience. He reminded Timothy of the things he had learned from
Paul and his responsibility and being mindful of them. And we heard about the
ones who were a part of the faith, but showed no support of Paul. This next chapter has
much more to instruct us about being a teacher. A soldier. A farmer. And much much
more.
Steward
2 Timothy 2:1-2
You therefore, my son, be
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard
from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to
teach others also.
God gave us a spiritual treasure; the Word. It's not something we
keep for ourselves. We must invest it in and pass on what we learn. Then they can share the Word
with others.
Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the grace. Grace is a gift we don't deserve. One of the definitions in the dictionary is;
a act of kind assistance. This grace is free.
We generally think that to get
something, it will cost us. Not here though. In Ephesians 2:8 it says; “For it
is by grace you have been saved ,through faith-and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God"
God's grace gives us the ability to study His Word, understand
what it means, and to teach it. And from that, we can bear fruit in our lives.
Timothy learned from Paul through the Holy Spirit. Now he needs to
teach others that are faithful.
In his Blue Letter Bible Commentary, Chuck Smith speaks of when
Calvary Chapel was still new, he taught men and their wives throughout a period
of two years, a delving into the Word of God. Then he sent them to begin
their own Bible studies at home. Within the next couple years, many were saved
at those studies. They were able to go and start a Bible study of their own.
Disciplining others so that they can disciple others. Pretty awesome.
Decisive Soldier
2 Timothy 2:3-5
You therefore must endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles
himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who
enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not
crowned unless he competes according to the rules
Paul
uses the word soldier here. I once again looked up the definition and found that one
of the meanings is: 'militant leader, follower, or worker'. That's what we are
for Jesus.
I know from stories that my brother has mentioned that being a
soldier is hard work. I remember when I got to visit him and his family, he
didn't just get up and head out the door. He had to prepare himself first.
We do as well. Ephesians 6:11-17 tells us about putting on the whole armor
of God. That’s how we can be a good soldier.
- We are in battle.
- Fighting for our eternity.
- Satan is relentless in his attacks.
- Stay on guard.
As a
soldier, and since we are in battle, our commander in chief tells us to leave
behind the mundane things. These might be a hindrance to the spiritual warfare
going on.
Luke 21:34 says; "In the last days, be careful lest you at
any time be overcharged with gluttony, surfeiting, or with drunkenness, or the cares
of this life so that thrunning, just to run, but running to get to the prize.
The athlete’s of today train hard. The one's ones training for the Olympics? On
the couch, becoming a couch potato? Nope! Working hard for that gold medal. How
about us? To tired to read? To pray? To preoccupied to go to church? Lets hope
not. Paul wrote in 1Cor. 9:25-27 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into
strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to
get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I run in such a way, as not
without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body
and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself
should be disqualified”
Let us be
like the soldier or the athlete and be ready, prepared, and on call for Jesus.
Ceaseless Farmer
2
Timothy 2:6-13
The
hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say,
and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus
Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains;
but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake
of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus
with eternal glory.|
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. |
Paul
first talks of being a soldier. Being in battle against darkness. He also
mentions athletes. Using good training to run a race to receive the prize. For
us, the crown of glory. Now he speaks of farmers. Unlike the first two, a
farmer must wait for his work to show. We as Christians must also learn to
wait. We might sow the seeds, and not see a result. Teachers have to spend a
year to see progress, and parents, sometimes, a child’s lifetime. It might take
a hardship, or a terrible decision for the teachings of God in their youth to
come to them. With that, we see the fruit. The farmer works with much patience.
And so must a christian teacher and parent. Verse 8 also reminds us that the
resurrection of Jesus, is the very heart of the gospel. Especially since
without His death and resurrection, we have no gospel story.
That is
our grace that he gave us. Jesus was treated as an evildoer. His suffering led
to His glory. Paul as a soldier of Christ is being treated as a evil doer. And
we see today that Christians are treated as a abomination. Verse 10 calls us
'the elect'. We are God's people.
2 Thessalonians
2:13-14 says; “ But we ought to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord,
because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying
work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this
through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can
tie it all together with the faithful saying in the verses 11-13
Some commentators
believe this refers to baptism which is a symbol of dying and rising in Christ.
In his Blue Letter Bible Commentary Chuck Smith and William Barkley's Daily Study
Bible, they feel that Paul is speaking of physical death. He would be execute
soon but knew that he would be with Jesus. All throughout history, we can read
about martyrs who died for Christ. They all knew where their soul was going.
Dying the physical death is to be eternally with Jesus. Enduring the suffering.
To one day reign with Him. Revelation 20:6 “Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall
reign with him a thousand years.
And in the last
portion? Can we deny Christ? Many try. But it doesn't change the fact. We are
here because of Him. He can't deny himself. Jesus did die for our sins. And
rose again. That's a fact, whether believed or not. It does effect us though.
Our eternity depends on it. I am so glad to know we know and believe.
Focused Workman
2
Timothy 2:14-19
Remind
them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive
about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present
yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babbling, for they
will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.
Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth,
saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of
some. 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.”
In the letter to James we see how words can do damage. Here Paul is saying the same thing to
Timothy.
Christians can sometimes argue over trivial matters. It can ruin
someone who is new to the church into thinking, 'why bother coming here if this
is going on'.
Chuck Smith wrote how one church argued over how many angels can
stand on the head of a pin. Who cares? As it says in verse 15; be 'diligent to
present yourself approved to God'. We should be showing ourselves honorable
regarding the Word of God.
1Thessalonians. 2:3-4 says; “For our
exhortation does not {come} from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but
just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we
speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.”
Paul
tells us to shun profane and idle babbling. It can just lead to ungodliness.
It's false doctrine and dangerous. And it can spread. Paul calls it a cancer.
It spreads, infects, and kills. In verse 17, we even have a name of a two false
teachers. Hymenaeus was named also in 1 Timothy 1:20. These two men teaching
contrary to the true gospel.
We've had men over time tell of the date that
Christ is coming. “On this date in the year so in so”. This so wrong and does
nothing but turn people away from the truth.
“The
Lord knows those who are his”!
Sanctified Vessel
2
Timothy 2:20-23
But in
a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood
and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses
himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful
for the Master, prepared for every good work. 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
We just
had Paul tell us about two men, who strayed from the truth and were now leading
people astray. Men who were members of the church. A great house like verse 20
says. A great house has many vessels: gold and silver, wood and clay. In Warren
Weirsbe's commentary; 'Be Faithful' he explains that Paul is not distinguishing
between Christians, but making a distinction between true teachers and the
false ones. The faithful are like a gold vessel bring honor to Jesus. False
teachers have no value at all.
They are pretty much like wood or clay.
Something that would not survive a test of fire.
Paul
tells Timothy to distance himself from these false teachers. We should do the
same. Jeremiah 23:16 says; “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do
not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with
false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the
Lord”.
Bringing us back to vessels, we are all a part of this great
house. We are a vessel. But what kind of vessels are we? I would like to be an
honorable one that is fit for the master's use. Staying away from the impure
doctrines. The verse tells us to cleanse ourselves from these. To be vessels
for God, we need to be empty, clean, and available. Than He can take us, fill
us, and use us for His glory.
Ephesians 2:10 says; For we are God’s
handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do. And we also have Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your
light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your
Father in heaven.
And
'flee youthful lusts'. There are a few definitions of lust, but the one that
seem to fit here was; urgent desire or interest. Chuck Smith used an
example of Joseph and Potifer's wife. We all know that story; that she desired
him that he ended up having to flee from her.
I don't know what Timothy may
have been desiring, Paul is reminding Timothy to flee from these. The desired
goals are: righteousness, faith, love, and peace. This is what God wants for
us.
Compassionate Servant
2
Timothy 2:24-26
And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach,
patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps
will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that
they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having
been taken captive by him to do his will.
These
last couple verses Paul writes of being a servant. In the Greek, this would mean;
slave. So, Paul is calling himself a slave for Jesus Christ. A slave in those
days and even up intill after the civil war, a slave had no will of their own.
They were under a master's command. We were slaves to sin, before we were
saved. Now we are under a master's command. Jesus. We are instructed to teach
His Word.
Unfortunately, some are more difficult than others to teach. They
prefer to argue about unimportant stuff. Paul wants Timothy to ignore the
arguments, not ignore the people. Being gentle and patient. Our task is to get
them out from under the devils snare, and deliver them into the Lord's hands. 2 Corinthians
4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God”.
We can teach them in love. Instruct them and bring them the truth
which will set them free. With prayer, their eyes will be open. And bind the
work of Satan. We can through prayer open their eyes to see the truth. And we
can bind that work of Satan that is keeping them from knowing the truth. John
8:32 says “Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall set you free"
This
chapter has so much to teach us. That we are soldiers engaged in constant
battle against the darkness. Having to endure hardness, and fighting the enemy.
We are farmers. Undergoing patience when we await results of seeds sown. Being
a vessel for God to be filled up with the gifts to bring Him honor. And being a
servant for Jesus. Gentle, humble, and willing.
Are we willing to be those vessels God has called us to be?
A Soldier, A Farmer, And Much, Much More?
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