Reliable Men

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Key Verse 2:2

In this passage Paul shows Timothy (a minister of the gospel) how to be fruitful and increase in number (so that the gospel wound advance and God's ministry would prosper).  

1. Read verse 1. This passage indicates that there is something about God’s grace [in Christ Jesus] that makes a person "strong". How does this grace make a person strong? 

** This grace refers to the blessings found in Jesus, such as the blessedness of a man being forgiven of his sins, the blessedness of the privilege to pray to the Lord for all the benefits made available at the seat of prayer (like the unction found in prayer, the answers to prayer requests for the flock of God and the ministry, the divine assistance in fighting enemies, the way to get all the needs for all the resources met/supplied, etc.), or the blessedness of the power of the Holy Spirit working inside of a man, the freedom we have in the Lord, the joy of salvation coming from Jesus' mountain, the peace rolling like a river, and much more. Collectively Paul calls this grace [incomparable or unsearchable] "riches of his grace". Eph 1:7; 2:7; 3:8 

2. Read verse 2 and think about the expression, "reliable men". How can we know if anyone is "reliable"? What does "entrust" mean? Why should one entrust anything [of value] to reliable men? Why is it necessary to teach someone to [be qualified to] teach others? 

** A man is reliable if he relies upon what is reliable, that is, the love of God. So one can tell whether or not any one is reliable by looking at what that person is relying upon. For example, does he rely upon his own wits and wisdom, ability to talk, his own education, and/or his own will power? Or does he have strong faith so he relies on Jesus Christ? What is his prayer life like? How often does he get swayed by emotions? How easily does he get upset or swayed by people or events? 

Read Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

I John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Luke 22:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." 

** Basically it means to transfer by means of education via teaching, example setting, etc. what has been revealed by the Lord in regard to the way of salvation. 

** It is needed because entrusting (training) requires a lot of investment (time, energy, money, etc.). Yet, after investing so much in one person, if that person turns out to be a swindler (a hired hand), then all of your lifetime investment will come to nothing/a total waste. 

** The necessity is based on the reality that the need for the gospel servants to "continue" to exist in each generation. 

So in order to supply each generation with God's servants, one must produce disciple-makers. 

In addition, production of disciple-makers is necessary because spirit begets spirit, so unless one produces the one who produces, production of a Christ like person will cease. Then the ministry will stop growing. 

Above all else, as a blessed command the Lord God commanded us to be fruitful and increase in number. And this command can best be achieved through key member training.

3. Read verses 3-4.  Think about a soldier involved in a war (like the U.S. soldiers involved in Iraq). In what respect can the position of a Christian be likened to that of a soldier? What makes a man to be a "good" soldier of Christ Jesus? 

** Just as a solider is involved in a war/battles, so also a Christian is involved in a spiritual war - the war between the enemy's kingdom and Jesus' kingdom. And the war/battle is a matter of life and death, a matter of survival or annihilation, so that all from the opposing camp fight to finish the army of Christ. And no war is a joke; there is no cease fire. 

** 1) endure hardship; 2) commitment to causes (not entangled in civilian affairs) and 3) loyalty to please the supreme commander Jesus Christ.  

4. Read verse 5. In what respect is a Christian like an athlete? What does it mean for a Christian [worker] to compete "according to the rules"? What will happen when one does not follow the rules? Yet, why do many end up ignoring [and thereby breaking] the rules?

** A Christian is like an athlete in that an athlete competes for a victor's crown just as each Christian is going to be rewarded by Jesus Christ for what he has done while in the body whether good or bad. 2Co 5:10; our life here is an earning period, and the life to come is a rewarding period; so while we are on this side of the grave, we work hard for the name's sake of Jesus, and then when Jesus comes again he will take a look at what each person has done while in the body and reward each person accordingly. Read Luke 19:17; 20:35

** It means to serve God's work God's way. For example Paul exhorted Timothy to teach what needs to be taught with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 1:13; he also said in 1Co 16:14 to do everything in love. A good guide is also found in Acts 1:1-4 where we find rules like: a) do first and then teach; b) give instructions through the Holy Spirit. The point is that end does not justify means. What to do is as important as how to do. John 12:49

** You lose the reward, even if you think you deserve the first prize. 

** Because of their greed to bear fruit quickly. The factors that are responsible for this kind of error include unhealthy, selfish ambition, jealousy, or the desire to make ones’ own name, etc. 

5. Read verse 6 and consider the "hardworking" farmer. What does "hardworking" mean? In what respect can the life of a Christian be likened to that of a farmer? 

** hardworking - work hard

** They are similar in that a Christian is working on saving souls just like a farmer is growing food like wheat or tomatoes. In order to save a soul into God's kingdom, one needs a lot of cultivating [cultivating the [heart] soil of a person, sowing the seed (word of God), a lot of weeding, watering, and fertilizing, etc. all according to the seasons. 

The end