Paul’s Analogies to Timothy

2 Timothy 2:3 ESV

“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.”

Word pictures; many use word pictures to drive a point home. Often ministers use word pictures to explain a passage of scripture or an ideal from God’s words. In this first word picture Paul describes to Timothy that suffering can be dealt with on a higher plan than complaining about suffering. After all Paul was suffering for the cause of Christ and Timothy will see it very soon on a grander scale than what he had seen thus far in his ministry.

The image of a soldier would have been very familiar to Timothy; Roman soldiers were everywhere, every day throughout the region. Paul relates to what Timothy has seen, and now he asks Timothy to becoming a soldier of Jesus Christ and learning to endure what hardships may come his way because of the Gospel message. Paul further paints a picture for Timothy by saying, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” A good soldier is trained and focused, they will set aside personal interests and comfort to accomplish their mission. Just as a soldier isn’t involved in civilian business, Paul tells Timothy to avoid entanglements in the affairs of this life that would distract him from his spiritual mission. 

Prayer:

Lord, grumbling and complaining should never be our resolve, but to endure we will be soldiers of You and the cross. Endure with grace should be who we are, after all we cannot expect to win anyone to You in the middle of our grumbling and complaining about life and the things that we have to endure on earth? We see how You suffered and died, and You never moaned and groaned or berated anyone in the process. You endured because You knew what Your death and resurrection would mean to all believers. In Your name Lord we pray, AMEN!