Soldiers, Athletes, and Farmers (12/24)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Timothy 1-4.

Paul used three analogies to describe the role of a preacher to the young evangelist Timothy. The examples that Paul used are common, even today, so that we might be able to easily see the points he was making.

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops” (2 Timothy 2:3-6).

Let us briefly notice the three examples Paul used to describe the role of preachers:

  • A preacher is a soldier – While all Christians must “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11) and be prepared to engage in a spiritual conflict (2 Corinthians 10:3-4), those who preach are particularly responsible to be set “for the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16). Therefore, preachers must be careful not to become entangled in the affairs of everyday life. Of course, there are certain obligations that must be met (1 Timothy 5:8); but preachers must devote themselves to the word (Acts 18:5) to whatever degree their circumstances allow and not let the trivial matters of life distract them from their primary work.
  • A preacher is an athlete – An athlete competes in order to win a prize. Preachers, in addition to trying to win the prize of heaven (2 Timothy 4:7-8), are also trying to win the souls of men to Christ through the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). In order to do this properly, they must act “according to the rules.” This means they must follow God’s standard in everything, not changing the gospel or adopting the innovations of men in order to reach more people.
  • A preacher is a farmer – A farmer works in order that his crops might grow and produce fruit. Preachers preach in order to cause spiritual growth in those who hear them (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). In pointing out that farmers are the “first to receive [their] share of the crops,” Paul reminded Timothy that it was good and proper for preachers to “get their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:10-14). Of course, preachers should be willing to preach with or without compensation. But if the brethren are willing and able to provide support so that preachers can devote themselves “completely to the word” (Acts 18:5), then preachers should have no qualms about receiving support as their fair “wages” (2 Corinthians 11:8) for preaching.

Those who preach the gospel should learn from the soldiers, athletes, and farmers so that they might preach the gospel effectively and according to the will of God.

Tomorrow’s reading: 2 Peter 1-3; Jude 1

[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]


Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.


.