2 Timothy, Part Eleven
Soldiers, Athletes and Farmers
2 Timothy 2v4-7
14th August 2026
2 Timothy 2v4-7
No-one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather
tries to please his commanding officer.
Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s
crown except by competing according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer should be the first to receive a share of the
crops.
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all
this.
Here, Paul gives us three metaphors for the Christian life, which teach us how we should think of ourselves and, consequently, how we should live.
A Christian, and particularly a pastor, is a soldier of Christ
In verse 3, Paul urged Timothy to Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. As we said last time, all Christians, and particularly pastors, should see themselves as soldiers in Jesus Christ's army. Of course, we're not an army in the usual sense; we're an army of peace.
2 Corinthians 10v3-5
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ.
All true Christians are involved in conflict. Jesus said:
Luke 6v26
"Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their
ancestors treated the false prophets."
John 15v18-20
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you
do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That
is why the world hates you.
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If
they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
Since we are soldiers, we should live like soldiers. As Paul says, "No-one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." This has obvious application to pastors; a pastor is a pastor 24 hours a day. He is dedicated to the well-being of the people God has put in his care. Jesus said:
John 15v18-20
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep."
All good shepherds - all good pastors - give themselves for their churches.
This truth that "No-one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer" also applies to all Christians. We are Christians 24 hours of every day. We cannot and should not dedicate all our time to the well-being of our church, but we are God's soldiers all the time. Whatever career we have, or if we're still at school, or if we're retired, we are God's soldiers. Our work, or our studies, or our later years, should be dedicated to God.
Study what you believe God wants you to study. Do the work you believe God wants you to do. Live out your retirement the way you believe God wants you to. Do everything to please God and to promote His kingdom. Do everything with integrity, and look for opportunities to share the Gospel with other people.
A Christian, and particularly a pastor, is an athlete for Christ
A Christian is not called merely to accept salvation and then relax until the Day of Judgement. He is called to run. Paul told the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 9v24-26a
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the
prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it
to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will
last forever.
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly
The writer to the Hebrews says:
Hebrews 12v1-2a
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
By their very nature, metaphors are not perfect. When the Bible speaks of running a race, it's not suggesting that we compete with each other. When it talks of receiving the victor's crown, it's not suggesting that only one person can be the winner. Nevertheless, we're given this metaphor because running involves effort, and because we're seeking a prize.
An athlete imposes discipline on himself. He manages how he lives, what he eats, how much he trains and so on, in order to be the best athlete he can be. As Christians, we, too, should take care to live in such a way as to become the best Christians we can be: sanctified, loving, faithful, godly people. We can be inspired by Jesus Christ our Lord, desiring to be like Him.
This is even more important for pastors than for the rest of us, because pastors can only encourage their churches to become Christlike if they, too, are becoming Christlike. But it's obviously important for us all. What could be more important?
In this passage, Paul particularly urges competing according to the rules. We all rightly hope to receive reward from God for our conduct on earth, our service to our Lord. That requires us to live in accordance with the Bible.
A Christian, and particularly a pastor, is a farmer for Christ
All Christians, and particularly pastors, are to follow Christ's example by sowing the love of God and the word of God in other people. All Christians, and particularly pastors, should look for opportunities for reaping. That is, gathering people into the kingdom of God by helping them to respond to the Gospel.
Paul says, "The hard-working farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." All Christians, and particularly pastors, are called to work hard for the kingdom of God, one way or another. We're not all pastors, we're not all gifted evangelists or preachers, but we can all pray, we can all support our local church, and we can all tell other people about the Christ who died for us.
God will reward the Christian people who work hard in His service. He will reward them first. They will have joy seeing people forgiven, saved, born again, into God's kingdom. They will have joy seeing their fellow-Christians benefit from their loving service. They will have joy as churches grow and the works of Satan are opposed. They will have joy from knowing that they are co-workers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3v9 ESV).
Galatians 6v8-10
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Think about these things
Thus Paul urges us to see ourselves as God's soldiers, God's athletes, and God's farmers. These metaphors remind us of the need to be diligent, to be disciplined, to seek to please our Lord. And Paul promises us that God will reward us if we live accordingly.
Paul completes this section by saying, "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." Please do take the time to think about these things. God will bless you as you seek understanding.
James 1v5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to
all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.