A Good Soldier

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  2 Tim 2:3

Paul often used military illustrations in his letters. This is not surprising since he lived in a military state and was in prison himself. He was telling Timothy that he had to learn to endure affliction and trouble in his service for the Lord Jesus, and Timothy's attitude toward such suffering was to be that of a soldier on active duty.

The word translated “endure hardness” is used four times in the NT, and three of those references are in this second letter to Timothy (2:3; 2:9; 4:5). A good soldier is one who puts duty first, recognising that others are counting on him; he has to “war a good warfare” (1Ti 1:18).

Paul makes the following comments on the characteristics of a good soldier:

• He endures hardship, 2 Tim 2:3

• He avoids entangling himself with the affairs of this  life, 2 Tim 2:4

• He ever keeps before him the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, 2 Tim 2:8

• He thinks of the whole army, "the elect's sake", 2 Tim 2:10

• He trusts his commanding officer, 2 Tim 2:11-13.

We are the Lord's warriors in a world-wide, life-long, spiritual battle. The battle has been won by our Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the enemy will not stop striking back until he is confined for ever. As the Lord's soldiers we face many hardships, and we need to condition ourselves by practicing devotional discipline, behavioural discipline, and discipline in doing good.

It is difficult for many Christians in much of the Western world to understand what serious spiritual warfare and suffering for Christ mean, even though our society is becoming more hostile to Christianity and to religion in general. But normally here we are not faced with loss of job, imprisonment, and execution, because of our faith. With few exceptions, being a Christian will not keep a student out of college or a worker from getting a good job.

Regrettably in some places of the world, the work of the Lord is suffering because many believers are in their ‘comfort-zone’. How often prayer meetings are poorly attended because some are too tired to come, have other priorities, are too busy, or have not eaten after work, etc. Should we really come to the Meeting hungry or un-rested? Most definitely yes! We need to be ready to endure a little hardship out of love for the One who unreservedly gave Himself for us at Calvary?