Soldiers, Athletes, and Farmers – 2 Timothy 2:3-6

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Brian Sullivan | Jordan, Ontario

God made our bodies from the dust of the ground (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7) and breathed life (our spirit) into us (Genesis 2:7). God knows the potential that we have and the strengths that are ours. His work and service allow us to discover some of those capabilities as others did in the Scripture record. We marvel at the list of the faithful Old Testament worthies found in Hebrews 11 and realize that many more people could have been included (Hebrews 11:32-40). We must realize that every person has potential in God’s service. It is not always the person at the forefront or the most recognized that can teach us the clearest lessons about God, life, and living for God. We find that the greatest servants of God are sometimes those that others have not heard of but who carefully and diligently followed God in faith and faithfulness throughout their days. Who would have thought that a “little child” could teach by example a willingness to follow and an earnest desire to be near Christ? Yet, Jesus shared, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus used “sheep” to teach many other principles, including the need to follow the Shepherd to keep from wandering to and fro. He brought across the earnest care and connection between the true Shepherd and the sheep by suggesting the Shepherd knew His sheep and the sheep knew their Shepherd’s voice and followed Him (see John 10:2-4).

It is important to realize that the Holy Spirit was able to take familiar occupations and situations of the wider world and utilize them to impress upon Christians simple truths that they would be reminded of each time they encountered one of these people in life’s pathway. Join me in the book of 2 Timothy 2:1-2: “You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (NKJV). Paul, realizing that age is gaining ground on him (2 Timothy 4:6-8), knows there is a constant need to encourage the next generation to carry the banner of truth and faithfulness forward. No matter how capable a leader may be in the church, they must realize their mortality (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2; Hebrews 9:27) and prepare the next generation to take the reins. Paul did that by gathering young men around him to encourage, strengthen and prepare them for that day. This context fits within that very framework. To teach others effectively and faithfully lead, one must first work on themselves (cf. 1 Timothy 4:15-16). Elders are called upon to “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers…”(Acts 20:28; As we consider ourselves, let us also make preparations for the day and time beyond us, the Lord willing. Paul continues in this text: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, NKJV). Though it is true that we need to busy ourselves in seeking the lost, we must also reinforce the saved and bolster them so that they can reach their potential in holding fast the truth so that they can teach the generation they live among as well as those coming behind them. That work of edification doesn’t always show immediate results, nor does it receive much recognition or importance among fellow preachers. Yet, if the gospel only goes as far as us (our generation), what about the next and beyond?

The Holy Spirit mentions three vastly different pursuits or occupations and uses them to encourage us in this vital work of perpetuating the gospel of Christ among our peers and the younger ones coming behind us. Here is the text from 2 Timothy 2:3-7: “3 You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things” (NKJV). We will speak of each of them in a moment but let us state up front that as vastly different as they are from one another, they have one thing in common. Each of them (one engaged in warfare or soldiering, one in athletics, and one in farming) must be dedicated or committed to what they are doing. A soldier who fails to train and prepare for action properly will falter on a battlefield; an athlete who determines they are so good they don’t need to practice will fail miserably in the actual competition; a farmer who refuses to expend the effort in sowing season will come up short in the harvest season. Christians, likewise, must continue to strive to be more like Jesus (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:15), or they won’t have any strength to resist the onslaught of the devil or to uphold truth when the day of conflict befalls them.

Each of the life situations seems to have one central lesson for us. At verse 3, Paul writes by inspiration: “You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Following Christ is a beautiful and rewarding life. Still, we must be aware that there will be days of challenge that we will meet (2 Timothy 2:3; NKJV). They may come in various forms (even as the soldier in conflict will meet varying conditions on the battlefield). Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 spoke of: “in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.” From the view of humans, those are things we would all like to avoid, yet Paul concluded that verse by adding: “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (v. 10, NKJV). He realized that whatever the trial of the moment he was enduring if it caused him to lean upon God and seek His help, he was stronger because of it. Christ had told him that “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 10:9). Sometimes the futility of the moment (infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses; see also Romans 8:18-20) helps us realize our need for God in our lives, which strengthens us through them. We can’t let those momentary (compared to eternity) situations draw us away from Christ. We chose to follow Christ (Matthew 16:24), and we must remain committed to that, come what may. Our quest is to stand faithful with Christ, to hold up the banner of the truth, and to follow Him to victory, whether it be in a battle we encounter in this earthen realm or into heaven itself in the last day.

In 2 Timothy 3:5, Paul speaks of the athlete. By inspiration, he handles it in this fashion: “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (NKJV). Once more, fundamental truth is elicited from this athlete. No matter how good he may be or how successful their run, they cannot be “crowned” as victor “unless he competes according to the rules.” Faithfulness to the rules is obligatory to claim the win. In much the same way, Timothy was encouraged to teach the truths he knew to faithful men so they, in turn, could teach others. Grace involves teaching, changing, and faithfulness (Titus 2:11-15.)

What great lesson can we draw from the farmer? In this context, again, one main lesson is set before us. “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops” (2 Timothy 2:6). Paul recognizes the work ethic of the farmer and calls them “hardworking.” They intend to do what is necessary to bring a crop to harvest or a calf (or other animals) to maturity and production. The farmer, like the Christian, knows that they will face challenges with the weather (sunshine and rain); delays in sowing, cultivating, and harvesting. Yet, because of the work, time, and patience they have invested, they are entitled to rejoice in the day of harvest and share in the produce they have had a part in developing. Our joy as a child of God is to see the younger men rise to share in the service, to encourage them in their walk for God, and they are the fruit of our efforts. We, like Paul, can rejoice in them and have the satisfaction of knowing that the truth is in capable hands, that we have done what we can, and now it is time to anticipate that greater rest beyond death’s door (Revelation 14:12-13)

Jesus once asked, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b) We are encouraged by this passage in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 to make certain that the generation that follows us knows the truth, upholds the truth, and continues to impress it upon their peers and those of the future, the Lord willing. Reminiscing on the battles or victories of the past won’t win the battle of today. Competing without practice or with the intent to bend the rules will not result in a crown of victory but should bring the shame of failure. Bible knowledge and insight don’t just automatically happen. Just as bricks can be applied one brick at a time to face a tall building, Bible knowledge comes one verse at a time of dedicated study and application. Without Bible knowledge and insight, we are not ready to run to God’s glory in today’s world. Finally, like the hardworking farmer, we must continue to put forth effort for God, realizing at the end of the day we will share in the victory and give God the glory for His great blessings. May God help us grasp these simple truths and prepare the next generation for His service. God bless us all.

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October 2021 | GROW magazine