In 2 Timothy 4, Paul gives what some have called his “Last Will and Testament.” He wants to encourage Timothy to stay faithful to the Word of God. He tells him and us that we need to be in the “Lord’s Army” for the “duration.” We need to be faithful to the end. Paul wanted to impress on Timothy that the Christian life consists, not only of privileges, but responsibilities.
In 2 Timothy 4:5-8 Paul tells Timothy he must fulfill his ministry. I think that primarily Paul is referring to Timothy’s work as a preacher of the Gospel. But we all can make application to our lives in Christ. All of have a ministry to fulfill. The Lord has “called us out of a kingdom of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Col.1:13-14).
To fulfill our ministry means to do whatever God wants you to do. Each of our ministries for the Lord are different though grounded in the same Lord and based upon the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 4:5 Timothy is told to “be sober in all things.” This means he must carry on his ministry with seriousness of purpose. We must do the same.
In 2 Tim. 4:6-8, Paul contrast some of the things in his life to encourage Timothy in his responsibilities to the Lord and His Church. He give his own personal testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness. He says that:
- He has fought the good fight.
- He has finished the course.
- He has kept the faith.
I want to take each of these and show how “An Approved Servant of the Lord” will incorporate the principles in his or her life.
