Faithful Teachers of Others Will Be Rewarded – 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Is it appropriate to work for the reward?  Well, it is apparent that God uses the motivation of reward throughout Scripture.  There is something “selfish” about wanting a reward for serving Christ, but it is an okay “selfish” that God approves.  And here Paul uses the same motivation with Timothy.

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 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. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.  (2 Timothy 2:1-7 ESV)

Everyone must prepare for and yield to a successor if the work they most care about is to continue.  The only way the gospel has continued from a human standpoint is that those who kept and proclaimed it faithfully trained others to do the same.  This is the mantle Paul places on Timothy as Paul faces death.  What Timothy has learned from Paul must become a string unbroken of transmission of the faith.

Paul gives Timothy three powerful metaphors to meditate on and to guide and motivate him.

The soldier suffers everything for the ultimate cause and even puts his life on the line.  The believer in Christ can do no less.  He must put aside lesser goals and follow the orders of his commander in chief.

The athlete disciplines himself in the guidelines of his sport in order to win a victory and a reputation.  The believer must submit to the requirements of truth and morality handed to us by Christ in order to gain a reward.

The farmer works hard but also shares in the fruits of his own labor.  The one who follows Christ must be a hard worker for him and will certainly be rewarded for his labors.

Are we faithful soldiers, athletes and farmers for the Lord Jesus and his kingdom?