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Key
Verse
But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned
them;
2 Timothy 3:14
INTRODUCTION
During the past
few lessons we have explored God’s gift of leadership to the church and
the character of those godly men. Today we will continue to explore the
components of godly leadership by looking at the important role and
characteristics of a ‘helpful mentor’.
Mentoring certainly includes the
qualities that we find in biblical preaching and biblical teaching but
differs as to the level of personal and intimate contact with the
audience. Mentoring is really a one on one interaction, where the
mentor is able to share their life’s experience and knowledge of God in
a manner that is more intimate than that from the pulpit. It also
requires the mentor to have a deeper understanding and knowledge of the
circumstances of those they mentor. It is a serious commitment of time
and prayer to nurture and grow an individual to reach their God given
potential.
Paul mentored several young men
whom he affectionately called his own sons. Timothy, who we will
consider today, was one of them. From a very early age Paul saw in him
a love for the word of God and the people of God and the spiritual gifts
that would make him useful in the ministry.
The lesson today takes us to the
second epistle to Timothy, and it reveals the heart of a true mentor.
Paul’s current circumstance was
very grave; he had been arrested for the second time during the time
when Nero was severely persecuting Christians.
Unlike Paul’s first arrest,
where he had good opportunities to minister and was confident of his
soon release, Paul was imprisoned and chained in a poorly lit, cold,
underground dungeon and without hope of release, (2Tim 4:6-7). Almost
all had abandoned him for fear of persecution and although he sent
asking Timothy to come quickly, it is not known if Timothy every arrived
before Paul’s execution.
Yet despite his impending death,
Paul was not downcast about his own plight, but would rather devote his
last moments to ensuring that those he mentored would continue the work
of the Lord which he had begun. As it were, he was passing the
non-apostolic mantle to Timothy.
It is clear that individual
ministries can be constructively helped when leadership is able, under
the guidance of the Spirit, to identify potential candidates for future
leadership roles, ascertain their commitment, pray for and mentor them.
This book of second Timothy is
considered to be Paul's last will and testament, and some think it was
dated within weeks of Paul's actual death. He was about to die and
concentrated on encouraging Timothy to continue the work of ministry,
and preparing him to carry on the work. Hence his emphasis is on
endurance and faithfulness to the truth.
The apostle had warned Timothy
that in every great house there were different kinds of vessels, some
to honor, and some to dishonor. Some who had not been purged,
sanctified and prepared for every good work, would make life
difficult for him.
It was therefore most important
for him to know how to deal with all men, for he would meet many
opponents, who were such because they were caught in the ‘snare of the
devil and taken captive by the devil as he willed’.
This mentor did not mince words
or try to make Timothy believe that life would be a cake- walk, but he
exposed him to the full truth.
THE TEXT
2 Timothy 3:1-9
Paul clearly accepted that
things were difficult for Timothy, but he did not back away from warning
Timothy that things were only destined to become worse. There would soon
be coming dangerous times, times of difficulty and stress, when he would
be pushed to the limit. The word he used for “perilous” is used
only once before in the New Testament, and described the two demon
possessed men in
Matthew 8:28 who were so
exceedingly fierce that no one would pass by them.
This dangerous situation which
would develop in the ‘last times’, would be characterized by
hypocritical professors who looked pious and religious and committed to
Christ but who had not been changed on the inside but were still given
over to sin. These ungodly men had infiltrated the church and were
systematically leading people into apostasy; they particularly targeted
the vulnerable, guilt-laden, fleshly, passion controlled women of the
congregation.
Paul described them as- self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural
affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage,
despisers of good, traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the
power of it.
The
basic sin of humanity is ‘love of self’ and out of this comes a
self-centered existence, where the outflow was love of money or a love
of materialism, pride or boastfulness, arrogance or a secret contempt
for others, blasphemy, insulting, putting God and people down and
speaking evil of them.
Now
turning to the younger members Paul listed other kinds of things Timothy
could expect. He spoke of: disobedience to their parents, rebellion
against parental authority, ungratefulness, unthankful, no gratitude to
God or to others;
Being unholy, that is, willing and ready to break all the laws of common
decency (the word was actually used to describe marrying among family
members or to refuse to bury the dead),
Unloving, or without family affection, or without love for kindred,
Unforgiving, or hostility which refuses a truce (this was un-forgiveness
set in cement).
Timothy should expect to find increasing numbers of slanderers or false
accusers (the word used literally means devils); without self-control,
that is, ungovernable, slaves to their own passion and lusts,
brutal, that is, savage, given to violence, ready to pounce on anyone
who gets in their way without regard,
Not
a lover of goodness, despising all genuine good,
Traitors, betrayers of country,
Headstrong, rash, reckless,
Haughty, literally having been puffed up, swollen with conceit.
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, who observed the outward
form of religion, singing hymns, go through the rituals, attending
church. But the Cross had no effect on their lives, for they denied the
Cross, which put to death the natural life or the self.
Paul's advice was to turn away from these people. The corrupt and false
leaders who shared these traits were reprobates, rejected men, people
who resisted the truth and believed in the counterfeit, just as the evil
magicians that resisted Moses. These false men would come to be sure
and certain end in destruction.
Paul assured his young disciple that
the time would come when these wicked men of corrupt minds, reprobate
concerning the faith, would be exposed as the instruments of Satan, (2
Tim3:8,9; Rom 6:16).
Verse 10.
Timothy was the very opposite of these apostate
religious leaders. The contrast is shown by the very emphatic words “
But you”.
He had followed a totally
different path from these pious counterfeits.
Paul in the next few verses
would tell Timothy to:
1. Do what he did or to remember
his example, and
2. Trust the Scriptures to guide
him through all the problems he would encounter.
Paul’s life was a testament to
that fact. But much more than that, Paul’s life was a testimony to the
unwavering commitment to the truth and the belief that the present
suffering could not compare to the glory we will eventually receive.
This may have been Paul’s final
words to his beloved Timothy, but he did not use this precious time
going over doctrine, he knew Timothy was fully persuaded; rather he
spent this time encouraging Timothy that he may overcome his fear and
rise to the occasion.
Paul used his own life as an
example to encourage Timothy. His life and his walk was founded in the
belief of the doctrine he taught. Having spent much time with Paul,
Timothy knew that he practiced what he preached.
His manner of life, in public
and private forums was known to Timothy. There was no self-seeking
ambition, he certainly was not after fame or fortune; but his purpose
was to simply preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he may win some
and that God would be glorified.
Note that Sound doctrine is a
starting point for godly living.
The phrase ‘Manner of life’
described one's upbringing or training and his way of life, his conduct,
his faith, the control of his lusts and passions, conquering his fears,
forgiving its enemies, working with his hands, supporting himself rather
than taking from the brethren, walking in the spirit, his ‘agape’ love,
his perseverance despite the things he encountered, the reproaches and
the circumstances of his life.
Paul could truly say, I have
endured all kinds of hardship and exercised patience toward those who
openly try to undermine and discredit me. My sole aim was to win them
for Christ.
By simple comparison, Timothy
would now be able to discern who the false teachers were – obviously
those whose doctrine did not match their life. Being able to identify
and deal with these false teachers was a major part of Timothy’s
assignment.
Verse 11.
It was imperative that Timothy have and maintain the
utmost trust and faith in God, especially when faced with persecution.
Paul reminds Timothy of the
terrible trials that he had gone through, and specifically mentions
those locations on his first missionary journey; where he had aroused
great jealousy in some Jews, because of the success of his preaching of
the gospel. Subsequently, Paul was attacked, beaten, stoned and
eventually run out of almost every town in which he preached.
Despite all these hardships,
Paul would encourage Timothy by reminding him that God delivered him
from everyone of his trials. Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra were places
with which Timothy was acquainted, Lystra being his home town. Timothy
therefore had first hand knowledge of Paul’s persecution.
Jews
stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the
city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled
them out of their coasts; but they shook of the dust of their feet
against them, and came to Iconium,
Act_13:50, Act_13:51. Here there was an assault made
both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to treat
them despitefully, and to stone them, and they fled unto Lystra and
Derbe; and there came thither certain Jews, who persuaded the people,
and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been
dead. The historian informs us that his life was miraculously restored,
and that he departed thence, and came to Derbe, and afterwards returned
to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they had lately been so
grievously persecuted. See Act_14:5, Act_14:6,
Act_14:19-21. These are the persecutions, etc., to which the apostle
alludes; and we find that he mentions them here precisely in the same
order in which, they were recorded by St. Luke. Now it is said here that
Timothy fully knew all these things and we may naturally suppose they
could not be unknown to him, when it is evident he was either a native
of, or resided in, those parts; for when the apostle, sometime after the
above, visited Derbe and Lystra, behold, a certain disciple was there
named Timotheus, well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra
and Iconium; Act_16:1, Act_16:2. As these things
happened in his own neighborhood, Timothy must have known them; for a
person who had such a religious education as he had, could not be
unacquainted with these persecutions, especially as we may believe that
his mother and grandmother had been converts to Christianity at that
time.
Verse 12.
Those who like Paul are determined to live a life of
godliness will become the primary targets of Satan; thus Paul can say
that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer. Ultimately
we note that Jesus went through the same persecution, and if He being
the master did not escape the suffering, how then can we his servants
expect to get off scotch free.
It is often said that
persecutions and afflictions are required courses in Christ’s school of
discipleship. They are not electives.
Actually Paul told Timothy that
his persecution was not something out of the ordinary. This was a
certain promise from the word of God. You won't find this in the many “
Precious Promises” books, but nevertheless it is a sure promise. If you
ever break ranks with the world persecution is sure.
Matthew 16:19 is a very popular
passage of scripture, that continues to be grossly misinterpreted;
suggesting that believers have the ability to bind the power of Satan,
reducing it to a level of harmless activity. Nothing could be further
from the truth – it is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that we can
even attempt to resist the Devil, and yet though he may leave us for a
while he will return at a more opportune time. James 4:7, Lk 4:13.
Martin Luther said most
succinctly, in the hymn ‘A mighty fortress is our God’ in part it says -
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name, from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
Verse 13.
It is interesting to note that here Paul warned
Timothy that there would be no relaxation in the conflict that he would
face, for literally the “evil men” and “religious counterfeits” “will
cut forward to what is worse”.
The insidious nature of the
false teachers that had infiltrated the church posed a most ominous
threat. These ‘wolves’ would devour the sheep and scatter those they
could not catch. Acts 20:29, Matt 7:15.
Paul described these men as
evil, they were not simply misguided people seeking the truth, but
consistently resisted the truth making themselves as willing parties to
their own deception. They are at a point where they are totally
deceived, for believing the lie, they proved themselves to be of
their father the devil; and now systematically propagate their
father’s lies.
These men were depraved and as
such they would only get worse and worse.
“The advocates of error are
often themselves as really under deception, as those whom they impose
upon. They are often sincere in the belief of error, and then they are
under a delusion; or, if they are insincere, they are equally deluded in
supposing that they can make error pass for truth before God, or can
deceive the Searcher of hearts. The worst victims of delusion are those
who attempt to delude others.”
They deceived by the means of
seduction, cleverly crafted words enticed people to yield to the flesh
and attempt to grasp scripture with a carnal mind. As the time of
Christ’s coming draws near, false teachers will become more and more
successful.
Verse 14.
Timothy and those who live in the end times will find
themselves surrounded by the activity of false teachers and an ever
increasing danger of apostasy.
Paul therefore encouraged
Timothy to remember his godly heritage, and the solid rock truth of the
scripture he had been diligently taught. He was indebted not only to
Paul but to his mother and grandmother, 2 Tim 1:5,13.
Having already been assured of
the truths he had learned and that he had learned them from people of
unwavering faith, he must hold unshakably to these doctrines. He was
told that he must continue (remain or abide) in the doctrines of
scripture that he has learned.
Note the distinction between the
things he had learned, the CONTENT of the scripture, and the element of
CONVICTION.
Timothy had checked things out
for himself and had learned them personally. The voice of God had
spoken to him and he had been totally convinced of the word of God.
Now we should remember that we
cannot learn what the Scriptures say without reading them, and reading
it through several times. This is the Word or mind of God and when we
read it, it will drastically change how you think about our self and
about others and will change the way we behave.
So we urge all to fill their
mind with the Scriptures. This is the only thing that will steady us in
the times of stress. This is the only thing that with change us for it
will point us to Christ.
The reference to godly parents
who taught him the scripture as a young child, is a very strong
motivating factor to continue in those things one has learned; thus if
one trains a child in the way he should go, when they are old they will
not forget.
This does not suggest that
parents are never wrong; a parent however, has no motive for deceiving a
child, or to purposely teach them what they knew to be false. A parent
usually has had much more experience, and much better opportunities of
examining what is true than his child has, and therefore has earned a
degree of respect. What a parent teaches a child will often stay with
them; it is therefore essential that a parent spend much time in the
study of the word of God, knowing that they are extremely influential in
what their children choose to believe.
Verse 15.
Timothy had been brought up on scripture, as a very
young boy he knew the scripture, the Old Testament writings; and it was
the scripture that would make him wise unto salvation, that is, prepare
him to receive Christ by faith through the preaching of the gospel.
The scriptures have the power to
make you “wise”, that is, to enable a person to “live
skilfully”, so that life would be constructed properly and built to
last. It will keep us from that downward slide that we can see in lives
around us that are not directed by the word of God.
Jesus said that the Old
Testament scripture testified of him, they were all about Jesus. If one
believed them they would ultimately be lead to Him (Jn 5:37-39). The
Holy Spirit brings salvation to men using the word (Rom 10:14-17, Eph
5:26, 1 Pet 1:23-25).
Though the Old Testament saints
(Jn 8:56, Heb 11:26) did not have all the details concerning faith in
Jesus Christ for salvation, they looked forward to the coming of the
Messiah (Is 7:14; 9:6) and the atonement for sin (Is 53:5,6).
Abraham believed God and it
was counted to him for righteousness.
Verse 16. This
amazing power of the Scriptures is due to the fact that the Scriptures
are ‘ breathed out from God”. All scripture both Old and New Testament
are therefore inspired by God, literally God breathed. It is the
scripture that is inspired, not the writers of scripture.
The inspiration of scripture
refers only to the original autograph, not to any translation,
extra-biblical writing or cross references in the margin of your bible.
As such the scripture is the
very oracles of God; when scripture speaks, God speaks (1 Thes 2:13; Heb
1:1; 2 Pet 1:20,21). It therefore stands that scripture will be
profitable to men in teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people
and training them for a life that has God's approval.
Some times God told the writers
of scripture the exact words e.g.
(Jer 1:9) but more frequently
God would use their minds, vocabularies, and experience to produce His
own perfect and infallible, inerrant Word.
Doctrine refers to the over-all
body of truth that communicates divine revelation and instruction for a
life of godliness; while instruction originally referred to instructing
the young, teaching and training them the things of God.
Reprove is really the rebuke for
wrong behaviour or wrong belief. Hebrews 4:12,13 tells us that
scripture exposes sin and can be dealt with through confession and
repentance. Correction means to restore to a upright state. So
scripture tells us where we have fallen down but it also shows us the
way back, helping us to get back on our feet, and return to God.
The work of ‘instruction in
righteousness’ indicates that the word of God is meant to change our
character and conduct. It is our teacher or pedagogue, our coach, our
trainer, which helps us to expand our ability of righteous living.
The secret of wholeness is in
the Scriptures, not in psychology, philosophy or special higher
education. These things only help if they support what the Scriptures
teach but they can never replace the Scriptures.
Verse 17.
The intention is that the word of God is to fully
equipped the man of God, so that he becomes a good soldier of
Jesus.
The man of God
is actually a technical term for one who is officially called to preach
the word of divine truth (1 Tim 6:11). Such a man is ‘complete’
through the diligent application of the Word, and therefore capable of
doing everything God has called him to do. He has been thoroughly
equipped so that he will be able to meet the demands of godly ministry
and righteous living. The Word of God not only accomplishes this in the
man of God, but in the life of every believer (Eph 4:11,13).
This is our resource against
false doctrine and deception.
2 Timothy 4
Verse 1.
Timothy lived in a world of chaos and false doctrines, and he was a
small voice speaking against the destructive errors of the demonic
forces. It was necessary for Paul to solemnly conclude his letter by
reminding Timothy of the course that he had to finish.
In the presence of God and Jesus
the judge, Paul charged or commanded Timothy to stay true to his
calling, for not only is there great rewards for those who anxiously
long for the return of the King (2 Tim 4:8); but at the time of Christ’s
second coming, every believer will have to give an account. This
includes those who are living at the return of Christ and those who have
died and will be raised. All humanity without exception will stand
before the righteous judge at some point; there will be a future
judgment for unbelievers, which takes place after the millennial reign
of Christ, this is the ‘great white throne’ judgment.
Note the direction that Paul put
Timothy in, a direction toward God.
He stressed that Christ was
coming quickly, indicating that he should live in the spirit of
expecting Jesus. He should have no time to waste on trivialities while
unsaved souls were still out there, which had not been lead to Christ.
He's also reminded that Christ
was coming to judge, past, present, and future humanity.
Note that the account that
believers have to give is not to determine salvation, but to appraise
the work of every believer, and Paul especially stressed ministers of
the Word.
Matthew 12:36 tells us that
every idle word spoken will have to be accounted for. In light of such
a thorough judgment we should endeavor more earnestly to bring every
word, deed and thought under the control of the Spirit, and strive to do
the work of God.
Verse 2-3.
Paul commanded Timothy to be ready to preach the word
at all times. And he should do so not only when the message is popular
or well received, but even more so when what God had to say was
unpopular, uncomfortable and even when it caused him personal turmoil.
One must be ready like a soldier in active duty awaiting instructions
from his commanding officer; ready at all times to be deployed hastily.
Using sound doctrine one must
patiently reprove and rebuke those who are in error or doing wrong.
This is usually the more unpleasant side of ministry and should be
carried out in the spirit of meekness. It is vital the one correct the
behavior and belief of people using scripture, not our opinion or
worldly wisdom.
Even at the risk of outright
rejection, one must follow the instruction of God, for there will come a
time when people will outright refuse to listen to sound doctrine, in
fact they will get violent when the truth of the word pierces their
conscience.
Good teaching will be thrown
out the window in favor of ‘palatable’ teachers, false teachers who tell
the people simply what they want to hear. Stuff that tantalizes their
lust, feed the desire of the flesh and make them feel good, while
remaining in their sin. Professing Christians, nominal believers and
church goers alike will flock to those who offer them the blessing of
God without forgiveness, and salvation without repentance.
The ‘good news’, not the
distortion that is widely proclaimed resulting in a phony Christianity,
was to be proclaimed. Men were to be told that God loves us but he
pities us and will not ignore us, despite our weaknesses and failures
and our pride. He sent his Son to die for us, and to break the bondage
of sin in which we live. He has taken our heartache and hurts.
Timothy was told to proclaim the
word with passion and commitment, urgently, not when he felt like doing
it. The work was too important to be neglected.
He was to use all kinds of
different approaches to proclaim the gospel.
He was to address the mind,
arguing, reasoning, answering questions, presenting logical answers to
what was going on in the world so that it could not be refuted. This
was convincing.
He was to look at those who sin
was destroying and dehumanizing and who needed clear and direct
confrontation. This is rebuke.
Then he was to exhort and
encourage those who needed to be encouraged to act, and not be
controlled by their fears but to believe the truth of the gospel. This
was to be done patiently, continuously for some would be slow to
respond. They were in such a trap that much effort had to be spent.
Times would become so bad that
men and women would turn away from the truth, and refuse to hear it.
This meant that they would not even want to listen and then decide
whether it was right or wrong, but they would simply just not want to
hear anything that was sound leading to health in body soul and spirit.
They would have itching ear
disease. The symptoms were wanting to hear new things constantly,
imaginative, different, creatively put together things, entertaining
things, nothing negative, but constantly affirming that they were okay.
Verse 4.
This was a terrible time of apostasy, where the
staple diet of the professing believer had become fables; that is all
kinds of false ideologies, viewpoints and philosophies that were opposed
to the word of God.
Mentoring Timothy meant that
Paul not only had to make him aware of the things that were happening in
the church, but that he must deal with them. He could not turn a blind
eye, condone or tolerate such corruption and sin. In fact if a minister
of the gospel knowingly ignores sinful behavior, then he is really
complicit in the sins.
So we note to that belief in of
reincarnation is popular.
The myth of evolution is
popular.
The myth of human autonomy and
superior human intelligence is widespread. Everyone believes that our
destiny is in our own hands and we can work out all our problems.
We are also fed the myth that
science is omnipotent.
We are fed the myth that all
kind of sexual perversion including homosexuality and pedophilia is
acceptable to God.
All of this is falsehood. It is
moral and intellectual perversion.
Verse 5.
Timothy having been called to the ministry must deal
with the problems in the church without partiality as Paul did; but he
must also do the work of an evangelist.
This word ‘evangelist’ is
only used two other times in the New Testament (Acts 21:8; Eph 4:11) and
in each case refers to a specific office of ministry, namely the
preaching of the gospel to non-believers. However the preaching the
gospel is used throughout the New Testament not only in relation to
evangelists, but to every Christian.
Paul did not call Timothy to the
specific office of evangelist, but rather to do the work of an
evangelist; he must apply himself to winning souls into the kingdom by
the preaching of the gospel. This was in addition to the work of
reproof, correction and instruction aimed at edifying, strengthening and
restoring those who are professing believers.
Timothy was to endure suffering
which every Christian will have to face. He was to fulfill all aspects
of his ministry, not quitting until he was finished everything that God
wanted him to do. This would not be an easy task, and he would have to
be watchful, that is, sober and self-controlled. He would be surrounded
by all kinds of things that would weaken a spiritual life, and so he
would have to keep tight control on his passions.
Verse 6.
As Paul drew close to the end of his life, he took a
brief survey, looking back without regret. It was not only the words,
written or spoken to Timothy that was an encouragement; but his very
life was filled with living lessons. As a true mentor his life would be
a great legacy.
He knew that death was imminent
and described his coming experience as a drink offering being poured
out. In the Old Testament the drink offering was the final sacrifice
that followed the burnt and grain offering (Num 15:1-16). It seemed
that Paul alluded to his death as being the final offering to God, after
a life filled with sacrifice.
Clearly Timothy should learn
that the sacrifice of his life was not something to be feared, to be
viewed as a disaster. To the contrary, he had lived at life of
sacrifice, and so his life being poured out as a sacrifice was a fitting
conclusion.
His departure was near. The word
departure carries the meaning of being loosed, as a ship is loosed from
its moorings; it then sets sail for another shore. In this sense death
is merely the losing of that which ties us to this world, and the
ultimate freedom of the soul.
His portrayal of death is a
magnificent one. It would encourage Timothy to look at the great rest
that lay beyond this lif for the servant of God. Paul would be unyoked
as an animal from the plow, loosed as a ship is loosed from its
moorings, and taken to be forever in the undimmed splendor of God's
presence.
Verse 7.
Paul can now look on his past and comment on his
faithfulness to the divine task, summing up the accomplishments of his
life. He stated that he had completed all that God had called him to do,
therefore it is time for him to leave and collect his prize.
The believer’s life is a
spiritual battle, a war and a conflict with the world, the flesh and
Satan; but Paul was convinced that he had fought well. He had battled
the sin nature and prevailed.
In comparing his life to one who
runs a race, he said that he had stayed on course and completed the
race; at the end of which ones stops running and receives their crown.
Finally he says having fought
hard and completed the course; I have spent my life faithfully
endeavouring to serve the Lord.
Verse 8.
A final word of encouragement is in view in this
verse, as Paul is guaranteed a crown of righteousness and assured
Timothy that he and all who strove to live a life of godliness will also
receive a crown.
A crown
of righteousness - That is, a crown won in the cause of righteousness,
and conferred as the reward of his conflicts and efforts in the cause of
holiness. It was not the crown of ambition; it was not a garland won in
struggles for earthly distinction; it was that which was the appropriate
reward of his efforts to be personally holy, and to spread the
principles of holiness as far as possible through the world.”
Unlike those who
participated in the Grecian games, where the prize went only to those
who finished first, no matter how skilfully or earnestly the others may
perform; only one would win the prize. This is not so in the course that
the Christian runs, for it s not how fast you finish the race or what
position you come in, but that you compete the course.
The crown
of righteousness is also reserved for those who love or long for the
second coming of Christ – I dare say that some professing believers will
not be ready or would certainly be greatly surprised if Jesus should
come today; will he find us watching and waiting?
Yet the scripture
tells us that the true believer will not be surprised or overtaken as
rushed upon like a thief in the night. The true believer will
constantly strive to live their life in full expectation of the return
of Christ at any time. Their attitude, behaviour, conduct and desires
exemplify a life of holiness.
They will be active in the
proclamation of the gospel, eager to see souls won for the kingdom; they
will be concerned about the correction and restoration of those who
stumble, who are in error in regards to doctrine or corrupt concerning
their behaviour. They will be unsettled about sin in the life of the
believer.
In the remainder of this chapter
Paul reminded Timothy of those who had been a help to him, and those who
had tried to undermine and hinder the progress of the ministry.
CONCLUSION
There are many activities and
qualities required to be a helpful mentor; not everyone, though some
mean well, are able to give solid, godly advice and direction needed for
ministry. For some, to be a minister is merely a means to acquire power
and prestige.
The Church needs godly men with
spiritual wisdom, who will take the responsibility to seek out and
mentor the young in whom they see godly desire and gifts for ministry;
young men to whom they can instruct in biblical doctrine and impart
spiritual wisdom and entrust to pass on the mantle of ministry.
As a mentor there must be a
willingness to share the realities of godly ministry, especially the
ugly and unglamorous side of the work. There should be no delusion as
to the arduous task to which they are called, and a realization that
their reward is not really in this life but the next.
As Paul also modelled, a mentor
will spend time in prayer for those they mentor, for they know the
spiritual struggles they will face.
A mentor will constantly
encourage them to stay true to the word, be steadfast and courageous in
the reproof, correction and edification of believer. Be unafraid to
preach the unpopular doctrines, preach what the people need to hear not
what merely makes them feel comfortable.
Ensure that they realize who
will be a help to they and who will be a hindrance. Help them to remain
grounded and humble in the midst of blessing and ministerial success.
Encourage them by being a model
of godliness, help them realize their potential and godly calling, steer
them away from pitfalls, explain to them why you do what you do, and
convince them from scripture, that they may also learn to avoid the
snares of the enemy; and in time they also may become a helpful mentor.
However, let us he careful of
the phony Christianity that is around today, which will tell us that we
will escape all persecution. The scripture tells us that things are
going to get worse and worse. But God wants us to stand for truth and
righteousness at a time when things are degenerating.
We must remember that this world
is committed to false food, and it is imperative that we proclaim the
truth. We will be tempted to compromise and to resist the work of
presenting Jesus, the true Jesus to the world.
Just remember that the Bible is
the mind of God and we can never deviate from following its instructions
without bringing terrible consequences on our self and on the world
around us.
The hypocrisy and insincerity in
the Church that Timothy faced produced a tremendous crisis. Paul warned
that those in the Church in later times would behave the same way and
this would lead to tremendous times of crises that would engulf the
church and the world.
It is sad to note that his
prophecy is coming true.
Let us remember that God knows
what is in the heart. We cannot fool God simply by singing hymns,
attending Bible studies, coming to Church regularly but not changing the
life dominated by self-interest.
It is not a fable, but reality.
Jesus is coming and we will be judged. God is not mocked, and whatever
we sow we will reap.
God help us to repent and confess or sins daily. May
he hold us steady so that we will endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, and fulfill our ministry.
