Did you know that ancient Roman soldiers were not supposed to marry during their years of service? Now compound this with Augustus Caesar establishing the military term for soldiers at 20 years! Listening to Paul’s exhortation to Timothy suddenly takes on a new level of intensity and single-mindedness.
“No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4)
As Paul opened his second letter to Timothy, Timothy appears to have been grappling with some fear and embarrassment about the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7-8). Paul’s words offer to reframe Timothy’s perspective by reflecting on the dedication that even a common soldier had to possess. How much more, then, God’s soldier ought to exemplify a single-mindedness of purpose and devotion to please his Commanding Officer!
As good as a tenacious dedication to God is, Paul knew that such zealousness needs guidance. So he wove into this fabric of faithfulness the lesson of an athlete.
The intense training and discipline required of an athlete was proverbial. To petition to participate in the ancient Olympic games, the prospective athlete was required under oath to pledge that he would train for 10 months.
Nevertheless, such dedication alone was insufficient. The victor would be one who competed by the established guidelines (2 Timothy 2:5). Timothy’s service to God needed to be guided by God’s will, not just his own ideas of what was best. How easy it can be to get fired up about our own solutions and agendas.
And finally, Paul added a farmer to this collage of faithfulness. As the hard working farmer is the first one to receive a benefit from the harvest, so too it is only right that God’s faithful and dedicated servant should be first to share in the blessings of his labor (2 Timothy 2:6).
We can do this. As God’s people we can live the short period of our time under the sun dedicated to serving our Lord according to God’s will. Even if life seems mundane or arduous, we can do this. And let’s not forget, God wants to refresh his workers and it is appropriate to accept refreshment along the way.
by Barry Newton