Useful to the Master

Reading:  2 Timothy 2:14-26
    
    This section reminds us that the gospel has always been connected to controversy.  Timothy needs to “avoid irreverent babble”(2 Tim 2:16).  Paul warns him about “Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened”(2 Tim 2:17-18).  There are always “foolish, ignorant controversies”(2 Tim 2:23) floating around.  And Timothy definitely will have “opponents” whom he will have to correct “with gentleness”(2 Tim 2:25).  Considering such a minefield of unpleasantness could make Timothy timid, so Paul urges him to focus on himself:  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth”(2 Tim 2:15).  Timothy cannot solve all the world’s problems or answer all the world’s questions, but he can do his work and handle God’s word properly.

    Paul illustrates this personal focus by describing a homeowner and his dishes.  “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work”(2 Tim 2:20-21).  Our cups and plates serve different purposes.  Some cups are unworthy of great guests.  Others are too nice for everyday use.  If we cleanse ourselves from dishonorable things, we become vessels with honorable uses, “set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house.”  God can use us.  So Paul warns Timothy to “flee youthful passions”(2 Tim 2:22) and foolish controversies, behaving himself with kindness and love.  God can use Timothy if he will keep himself pure.

    There is no higher purpose for any human being than to be “useful to the master.”  I can actively submit myself to his service, a tool in God’s hand.  To do so, I must maintain purity, wisdom, patience, and kindness.  God can use us if we keep ourselves pure.

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One Thing to Think About:  How is God using me? 

One Thing to Pray For:  The humility to allow God to use me
 

Soldiers, Athletes, and Farmers

Reading:  2 Timothy 2:1-13
    
    Paul continues to encourage Timothy to overcome his fear.  “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also”(2 Tim 2:1-2).  Knowing that suffering is coming (2 Tim 2:3), Timothy needs to prepare for the possibility that others will need to carry on teaching tasks in his absence.  Just as Paul taught him, he teaches other faithful men, who then go on to teach others.  The messengers change and die, but the message multiplies.

    Three images dominate this section:  soldiers, athletes, and farmers.  “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him”(2 Tim 2:3-4).  Soldiers embrace suffering as part of their duty; Timothy must learn to think of himself as a dedicated soldier of Jesus.  “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules”(2 Tim 2:5).  Even remarkable athletes do not receive a prize if they fail to compete in the time and way prescribed; Timothy must seek the prize by focusing on God’s expectation for him.  “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops”(2 Tim 2:6).  Farmers eat what they grow as the fruit of their labor.  Paul occasionally uses this picture to argue that preachers deserve pay for their work (1 Cor 9:7).  I suspect that here he means that as Timothy teaches others to serve Jesus despite suffering, so he will suffer too.  He must prepare himself to experience first what other Christians will endure after him.  Meanwhile, Paul himself is in a similar position, bound in chains but passing the word on to others (2 Tim 2:9).

    Soldiers, athletes, and farmers all demonstrate dedication, discipline, and diligence.  They work hard to achieve important goals.  They suffer, but they suffer for a purpose.  God wants us to embrace the challenge of living for him and see the nobility of wholehearted service.

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One Thing to Think About:  Am I “entangled in civilian pursuits”? 

One Thing to Pray For:  Diligence to keep serving Jesus, even when it’s hard
 

I Am Not Ashamed

Reading:  2 Timothy 1:8-18
    
    Timothy appears to be struggling with discouragement, fear, and timidity.  Paul exhorts him:  “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God”(2 Tim 1:8).  Timothy must embrace the shame and suffering that accompanies the gospel.  Paul also wants Timothy not to be ashamed of him, a thought he brings up repeatedly throughout this letter (1:15, 16; 4:10, 15-16).  Perhaps other Christians were distancing themselves from Paul as he suffered in prison, fearing a similar fate for themselves.  Paul wants better from Timothy.  He mentions Onesiphorus as a notable exception of someone who was not ashamed of him, but sought him out in his imprisonment to serve him (2 Tim 1:16-18).  

    For his part, Paul is unfazed.  “But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me”(2 Tim 1:12).  No matter his sufferings, Paul does not balk or quiet down.  He knows Jesus and is confident that he will repay Paul’s faithfulness.  Jesus has entrusted Paul with a stewardship and Paul will faithfully serve until his time comes; Jesus won’t disappoint.  Paul’s confidence is not himself and his speaking skills, but in Jesus.  He urges Timothy to similar faithfulness: “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you”(2 Tim 1:13-14).  Timothy has a similar “good deposit” given by Jesus; he must rise to the occasion and “guard” it.

    Jesus and his teaching have always been surrounded by controversy.  Often those who follow him suffer for their connection to him.  It is possible for us to distance ourselves from Jesus and his people in such situations, allowing our fear to control us.  Paul urges us to place our confidence in Jesus rather than ourselves or the prevailing opinions.  Jesus won’t disappoint.

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One Thing to Think About:  In what situations am I tempted to be ashamed of Jesus?

One Thing to Pray For:  Confidence because I know whom I have believed
 

Unfeigned Faith

Reading:  2 Timothy 1:1-7
    
    Paul writes this second letter to Timothy to encourage him during a time when he appears to have lost heart.  Surprisingly, Paul is building up Timothy even though he is the one in Roman custody.  “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.  As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy”(2 Tim 1:3-4).  Paul remains thankful for Timothy in his prayers, especially mindful of their tear-filled parting.   His frequent use of “remember”(v. 3, 4, and “reminded” in v. 5) tells Timothy that he is still thinking about him though miles separate them.  “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well”(2 Tim 1:5).  Raised by a godly mother and grandmother, Timothy now shares their “sincere” or “unfeigned”(KJV) faith.  An unfeigned faith has no hypocrisy or fakeness in it; it is exactly what it appears to be.  Paul is calling on Timothy to live up to the tremendous examples he knows so well.

    After talking about his remembering and reminding, Paul has something he wants to remind Timothy of:  “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control”(2 Tim 1:6-7).  Timothy has a gift from God, but he must “fan” it “into flame.”  He must nurture and use his gift rather than growing timid or reluctant.  God does not want us to live in fear, but through his presence to have “power and love and self-control.”  Timothy needs to rise beyond his fear in the confidence of faith.

    We cannot force anyone to believe, but faith can be passed down as children see their parents demonstrate a pure, conscientious trust in God.  It is easy for us to become jaded about faith.  Corruption among religious leaders and personal slights from fellow Christians can convince us the whole enterprise is mistaken.  We need examples of sincere, pure, real-deal faith to pull us out of our doldrums and inspire us to serve Jesus afresh with “power and love and self-control.” 

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One Thing to Think About:  What examples of “unfeigned faith” have I seen?

One Thing to Pray For:  God’s help as I pass down my faith to the next generation
 

Devote Yourself to Good Works

Reading:  Titus 3:8-15
    
    Paul is serious about Christians doing good works.  He wants Titus to “remind them…to be ready for every good work”(Titus 3:1).  Good works cannot always be planned, but often we miss opportunities because we have not made ourselves “ready” for them.  After Paul has stressed that we are saved “not because of works done by us in righteousness”(Titus 3:5), he turns around and reiterates the point.  “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people”(Titus 3:8).  Our works can never save us, but that does not mean they are unimportant.  Titus should “insist on these things” because the only proper outgrowth of the gospel is doing good to bless others because God has done so much for us.  At the end of the letter, Paul brings it up again:  “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful”(Titus 3:14).  Good works ensure that others are cared for, especially in moments of immediate distress.  Good works are the “fruit” the gospel produces.

    Paul’s wording is especially noteworthy.  He wants us to be “ready” and “devote (ourselves)” to good works.  These terms imply continual focus and attention.  They also leave us open to the reality that most needs are unscheduled and outside the budget.  Urgent needs crop up in countless situations.  People need money, rides, comfort, company, physical help, babysitting.  It is only when we are ready and fully devoted to such works that we will see them as a blessing rather than an inconvenience.

    Faith is shown through works.  This is not a point for doctrinal discussion; it is our marching orders.  While I may not be able to plan all my works, I should be able to look back at my life and see actual good deeds done for others.  

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One Thing to Think About:  What will I do today that is good?

One Thing to Pray For:  A heart devoted to good works