Becoming a Good Soldier
Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-5
There is a story told about a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great. This soldier was apprehended after a skirmish, where he had ran from the battle and had abandoned his post of service. The soldier was brought before Alexander the Great, who inquired, “Son, what is your name?” The soldier hung his head, wrung his hands and muttered “Alexander Sir!” To this reply, the great commander sternly spoke and said, “Either changer your name, or live up to the name.” Alexander the Great was challenging the young man to become the good soldier that his name implied.
Likewise, Paul is admonishing Timothy to do the same thing. In similar fashion, we are living in a day when the military is spoken of frequently. It is a day of the tragedy of war and continued global unrest. The various branches of the military are training their forces to be able-bodied soldiers. They are looking for people who will be committed to the goal of becoming good soldiers.
What is a “good soldier?” In our text, Paul admonishes Timothy to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”(v.3). If there are “good soldiers,” it stands to reason that there must also be “bad” soldiers.
What makes the difference? Most soldiers are in the army because they volunteered for military service. The ones who climb the ranks are those who have set a target for becoming a “good” soldier. No one is ever recognized for having achieved mediocrity! Likewise, in the work of God, there are soldiers. This is what Paul was talking to Timothy about, in the passage before us. Since becoming a good soldier is of such importance, what are the prerequisites for becoming such a soldier?
Taught in the Right Way (v.2)
First, a good soldier will have been taught in the right way (v.2). A soldier does not automatically know what to do. He may have heard a lot of soldier stories, or watched a movie about a soldier, but that does not qualify him as a soldier. The new recruits are required to go through training. Likewise, the new “soldier of Christ” must be taught and given proper instruction. To accomplish this training, the soldier must learn the Word of God (cf. 1:5; 3:14-15).
It might be said that the Bible is the “Field Operations Manual” for the believer. The Bible will prevent sin in the life (cf. Psa. 119:11; 37:31), and it will provide light for the life (cf. Psa. 119:105; Pro. 6:23). The Scriptures are sufficient for all matters of life and practice (cf. II Pet. 1:3). Another duty of the soldier, is to listen to the right instructor (v.2; “that thou has heard of me”). For the one who desires to be a “good soldier,” he had better have a “good example” to follow. The one who instructs must have verifiable track record (“many witnesses”), and a recognizable objective (“commit to faithful men”).
Tough During Hard Times (v.3)
Second, a good soldier is tough during hard times (v.3). All good soldiers expect that there will be hard and difficult times (cf. II Tim. 3:12; Jn. 16:33b). Paul’s command to Timothy, is to endure those hard times. The book of Ephesians reminds us that there is a suit of armor that must be worn by the good soldier (Ephesians 6:10-18). Without the armor of God, the soldier will not survive the difficult times. (v.18).
Trained to Stay Focused (v.4)
Third, a good soldier must be trained to stay focused (v.4). The soldier cannot be “entangled” by the world. The word “entangled” comes from the word from which the English word, implicate, comes from. In other words, Paul is warning Timothy not to be implicated as being a part of the world (i.e., the world system). We are not to be entangled by the world (cf. I John 2:15-16).
It is our duty and privilege to serve and please God. The believer should have a consuming passion to please the Lord. Are you a good soldier of Jesus Christ? Have you committed yourself to Christ?
