2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
This time of year we are all looking for objects that are on sale. That’s what Black Friday is all about, right? For some reason we’re motivated by the prospect of getting a deal. We want to know we’ve gotten something for a fraction of the cost others have paid to receive the same item. But somehow instinctively we know that more often then not, we are compromising quality for cut rate pricing. Somehow we have this ability to make ourselves delusional to keep the dream alive. Now, if we’re only talking about compromising the quality of a television, watch, item of clothing or other material possession the damage is minimal; but if we’re talking about compromising the quality of the true Word of God, that’s something all together different.
In the last days of his life, the Apostle Paul took time to write his young protégé Timothy. In this heartfelt dissertation Paul gave Timothy sound fatherly advice along with heavenly prophecy. These lessons were intended to safeguard Timothy from the dangers of conformity and complacency. More than any other spiritual maladies, the temptation to conform and become complacent looms over us all. These work in conjunction in the life of a believer to take away the drive and ambition of God’s messengers. These are tools of the Enemy to weaken the Church of Christ. He can’t directly attack the Gospel, so he attacks you and me.
Paul began todays lesson by simply admonishing us to preach the word. And not just when it’s convenient, popular or accepted. His advice is that we preach the Word irrespective of how it’s received. And then Paul prophesied that a day would come when folk just won’t want to hear it. Note to preachers and those sharing the Word: I know the disappointment of carrying the Word of life and having folk turn a deaf ear to God’s holy utterances is devastating. But Paul offers some great advice. “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”.
Outstanding word isn’t it? Paul says be watchful. Matthew agrees. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Paul says endure afflictions. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Paul says do the work of an evangelist. Matthew writes, Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. And finally Paul concludes we must fulfill our ministry. After having done all the rest of the observations noted, fulfilling our ministry is the key to making everything else work. Think about it. The confidence, joy, power, love and every other gift of obedience in serving the Lord is directly related to fulfilling our purpose. Each of our individual ministries are vital and important in effectively disseminating the Gospel of truth.
Let’s face it. Holidays and cultural traditions pressure us all to conform. Society places Santa on the same level as Jesus. Maybe more so. The Lord shares his glory with Easter rabbits, marshmallow chickens and boiled eggs during Resurrection Sunday. Every time there’s a holiday, Jesus somehow comes in second. And that’s where we come in. We have to hold up the banner for the Lord. We have to preach when preaching ain’t popular. No matter what, we have to be people of integrity, because the truth is never on sale!
God Bless
