Text: 2 Timothy 2
So we have answered the why and the what, let’s answer now the “how”. How are we going to pass what we have learned?
Entrust to reliable men (2 Tim.2:2-13) Entrusting is to passing with confidence what we have learned. And we are not going to pass this to just ordinary people, but to “reliable men”. Men here may be masculine in form but generally it is about passing to reliable people who are able to teach others.
As Paul is giving this instruction to Timothy, we can all agree that Paul sees Timothy to be a “reliable” person who can teach others. So what does it mean to be a reliable person?
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[s2If current_user_is(s2member_level1) OR current_user_is(s2member_level2)]Focussed on the Lord Jesus Christ (v.4) Paul used the comparison to a good soldier. Someone who is only focused on his commanding officer. A good soldier does not get entangled to civilian affairs. Instead, he is focused on pleasing his officer by obeying him.
Similarly, as a good soldier if we are the “reliable” men, then we need to focus on our Lord, our commanding officer. Let’s not get ourselves entangled by the distractions of this world. When we start turning our eyes to the left or to the right, we start getting distracted on what to world has to offer, on what the world wants from you, and what the world looks like that we try to get ourselves to be the problem solver. And once we do that, we are distracting and start getting far from our Lord.
Following the rules (v.5) The second comparison Paul gave is like that of an athlete. An athlete is a good disciplined individual who is excellent in his sports and is keen on obeying the rules to win.
Similarly, we too needs to be like this kind of athlete. We push towards excellence and we are keen in obeying the rules.
Farmer like attitude (v.6) The third comparison is the hardworking farmer. Similarly, we are to be working hard in the ministry so that we can expect a good harvest.
These are the characteristics of “reliable” people. Are we reliable enough? If not, then perhaps it is now time to go towards that direction. Praying to find reliable people.
Keep reminding (2 Tim.2:14-19) The idea here is to repeatedly remind God’s people about quarrelling of words. Not only that it has no value, you cannot win a person through this way.
Teaching needs a lot of patience because it takes time for people to learn. In fact, some even learn and then go back to the old ways, unlearning again those that they have learned from the past. So Paul was reminding Timothy to “keep reminding”. So how is he going to keep on reminding these things?
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved (v.15). It is about making sure that he himself is always qualified to teach. If teaching the academics is hard, teaching disciplines, attitude of the side and heart is a way lot harder. But the hardest part is not the teaching, but it is you as a qualified teacher. It is hardest to keep oneself a qualified teacher.
This is why Paul said, “Do your best….” The description here is relative. One’s best may not be the best to another. However, it involves the attitude of the heart where one strives for excellence. Excellent as one approved.
Correctly handles the word of truth (v.15). Handling the word is one of the biggest tasks of a leader. One must be very careful, and is correctly handling it. In that way, we can preserve “the faith”, the sound doctrine.
This is very crucial in the discipleship process, in the passing on. If we in this generation passed on the wrong teachings and tainted the word of truth in any way, the next generation will suffer from that perversion. They will wonder away from the truth and the same thing will be passed on to the next generation. So if we are to keep on reminding people, we are to pass on the right teachings as well.
Avoiding godless chatter (v.16). Godless chatter destroys relationship. It’s taking off the gospel of peace. Therefore it is necessary to avoid godless chatter. These are the petty debates, unwholesome talks, and mockery talks.
Be a good model (2 Tim. 2:3; 22-26). “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (v.20-21)
Choose to have a better purpose (v.21). Paul is using another metaphor here. There are lots of items in a large house. There is a mixture in it. Just like in the Church, there are lots of people but they have different purposes, levels of involvement, roles in the Church. But what Paul is saying is, if we are to be like these items, then choose to be gold or silver. People that will be used for special purposes.
Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (v.22) Instead of doing evil, we are to pursue these things for there is no law that is against these. Pursuing these things builds up credibility and is both inner and outer expression of Christ in us.
Be kind to everyone, able to teach (v.24). Paul gave a lot of emphasis in this passage about godless chatter. It in involves quarrelsome attitude of the heart. So have to flee from these things. In verse 25, if we have opponents (not necessarily enemies), we are to instruct them gently and strive to win them hoping that God will grant them repentance.
Challenge:
1.We have discovered so far that discipleship is very essential to the continuity of the Church. But why do you think it is important to preserve the teachings as we pass it on to others?
2.Have you found someone who is reliable and is able to teach others?
3.Have you started discipling the next generation? If Yes, do you think you are preserving the sound doctrine?
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