Daily Bread 2011 - 2 Timothy 2

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

What Does This Mean?
As Paul continues to instruct his young “son” in the faith, he gives him further instruction on how to pass on what he had taught him. He uses 3 metaphors to illustrate his point: a soldier, athlete, and farmer. Though grace is a gift and we can do nothing to earn it, we can be strong in it. Meaning we can lean into the grace we have been given, and respond to it to make the most of it. Like any gift we can discard it or put it in a closet and forget about it, or unwrap and use to its highest potential. Obviously Paul is advocating the latter to his young son Timothy.

The one thing soldiers, athletes and farmers have in common is that they have to stay focused and work hard if they want to achieve what they have set out to do. A soldier who doesn’t take his commanding officer seriously or seek to do what he says will not be very useful. An athlete who cheats and goes outside of the boundaries of the game will not be victorious. And a farmer who sits back and doesn’t cultivate the ground and plant seeds will be one hungry farmer.

What Does This Mean For Us?
Just like the soldier, athlete and farmer have a single focus to enjoy what they have been called to do, so are we as sons and daughters of God. We have inherited everything that is God’s, but we can either use it today to bring more glory to God, or waste it but understanding its meaning and purpose.

Timothy had received all Paul’s great teaching, example and mentoring, and he could either just keep it to himself, or take on the same process with others and entrust to them the same precious model that Paul had given him. Paul realizes his time is limited, so he pours out all of his life into Timothy, hoping that Timothy will do likewise with those God leads him to. While the goal of the soldier, athlete and farmer is pretty obvious, the goal of the man or woman of God is take this grace God has entrusted to us and share it with others, who then can pass it on to others.

When Jesus returns one of the questions we will answer is what did we do with what we have been given? It is never too late to get into training and understanding how God can use you to bring more people into His kingdom. For sure it is hard work and needs dedication and training, but doesn’t everything meaningful or important in life require this?
Father, you have entrusted to us Your powerful grace. Help us to open this gift of grace and learn and dedicate ourselves to following Paul and Timothy’s footsteps so that one day we might hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Amen.