Now in this section he gives us three more images. First, he talks about a workman in verses 14-19, somebody who has a special skill. Then secondly, in verses 20 and 21 he makes a point about a vessel or utensil in the household of a great man. Lastly, in verses 24 through the end of the chapter, he describes believers as servants of the Lord. 

Not only is there a need to work hard in general areas of life, but it is true in Christian ministry and service, and it is also true in the Christian life. There is no easy way to holiness. It is hard work. We have to discipline ourselves and work at regularly reading, studying, and applying the Bible. We have to work at maintaining a consistent and thoughtful prayer life. There is no easy way of doing the Lord’s work in leading other people to the Lord and discipling new believers. It requires hard work to listen to other people’s problems and share in their troubles. Christians do this kind of hard work week after week, and sometimes year after year with another person. And it can sometimes take a long time to see the fruit of those efforts. We must toil faithfully if we would experience the blessings of a spiritual crop. That is what Paul is passing on to Timothy, and we need to learn this, too.

Now at this point in the letter he introduces three images, which occupy verses 3-6. They are images that are directed particularly to Timothy, who perhaps was timid, in order to encourage him to be strong. The three images are of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Here’s the way he puts it: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” In the case of each of these three images there are applications for the way Timothy is to serve as a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are times when the work of the church goes very well. There is unity among Christians, people are being built up through the preaching and teaching of sound doctrine, unbelievers are coming to faith, and other examples of spiritual progress. Then at other times things look like Paul’s experience in our passage, where he writes that people have deserted him. Yet, no matter how smooth or difficult the Christian life might be, it is the same gospel in both situations, and we have the same task to guard that gospel regardless of the attacks, unpopularity, or defections by those who once stood with us.

We know from 1 Corinthians how people viewed the gospel as Paul traveled throughout the Roman world. He knew that the gospel was a source of shame and offense. It was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. And anyone who believed this gospel was scorned and persecuted by both Jews and Gentiles. Paul understood how the world looked down on these things we as Christians hold precious. Yet, Paul wrote to the Corinthians that what the Jews regarded as a stumbling block, Paul found to be the foundation of revealed religion. And what the Greeks regarded as foolishness in comparison to their exaltation of mere human wisdom, Paul found to be the wisdom of God that makes one wise unto salvation.