Fulfilling Your Ministry
Rejecting the quick & easy path
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You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5 (NET)
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Likely the last letter from Paul to his beloved protégé, Timothy.
So it makes sense that here at the end he lists some reminders for how Timothy should live. Because we get to take a peak at these words, we can benefit from this list too.
If you think about it, Paul tells him to “work hard for God” four different ways.
Self-control is discipline. Being disciplined is a requirement for sustained, hard work.
Enduring hardship is not so much the working part, but it is the hard part. These could be trials & temptations to endure. But they could also be facing the realities of hard work: namely that at some point we hit some obstacles and the only way to get past them is endurance.
An evangelist’s work is hard and filled with rejection. Sharing the Good News carries a social stigma (even today) and doing that work is sure to lead to hardships.
Finally, an encouragement to be consistent with the task that God had given to him.
These are good reminders for us today.
The curse of mankind brought hard work upon the world (notice: work is part of our perfection but hard work is part of the curse). And so, to honor God with the work He gives us, we must toil & endure.
Next time you’re tempted to take the easy path, remember this verse and the final encouragement from Paul to Timothy.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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