I.
Introduction: Our Need for Motivation and Power
Every Christian goes through seasons in which
the motivation and power we need to do the will of God are seemingly lacking. God’s work of redemption in
our lives does not automatically secure our undivided devotion in a daily
sense, so we must continually secure such devotion by the means that God has
supplied.
II.
The Role of Second Timothy
The context of Second Timothy makes it an
appropriate place to look in order to find truth related to the matters of
motivation and power for the Christian life. It is apparent even upon a
cursory reading that Paul was concerned that Timothy’s passion for and
commitment to the Lord and his work was in danger of diminishing, especially in
light of Paul’s impeding “departure” (4:6), and therefore the apostle writes to
secure his protégé’s continued devotion. The purpose here is to walk through the
epistle of Second Timothy to pull out these motivating and empowering truths Paul
wrote of so that we might find our own devotion secured and strengthened.
III.
Specific Contributions of Second Timothy
a. 1:6-7 – The Gift of God (motivation and power)
o The Gift of God, which Paul identifies as the “spirit” which God
has given to Timothy, disables fear (which robs the Christian of motivation and power) and replaces it with 1) “power” (power); 2) “love” (motivation);
and “self-control” (power).
b. 1:8 – The Power of God (power)
o It by God’s strength, not his own, that he can maintain fidelity
to the Lord and his ways (described in this verse as not being ashamed and as
suffering for the Gospel).
c. 1:11-12 – The Appointment of God (motivation)
o We can, like Paul, look at God’s commission upon our life as a
source of motivation for continued faithfulness: he endured suffering because
God had appointed him for a task.
d. 1:13 – The Spirit of god (power)
o It is the Spirit of God, not our flesh, by which Timothy can
“guard the good deposit [i.e. the Gospel] entrusted to” him. Said another way,
faithfulness to God’s revealed truth and mission is enabled by his Spirit.
e. 1:16 – The People of God (motivation)
o Onesiphorus was a source of refreshment for Paul in his difficult
circumstances. Often God uses other people to help us carry on.
f. 2:1 – The Grace of God (power)
o The implication of Paul’s statement here is that Timothy needed strength for the task ahead of
him- he was insufficient on his own. Paul identifies, not self-effort, but “the
grace that is in Christ Jesus” as the source of his- and therefore our- power.
g. 2:10 – The Elect of God (motivation)
o Ministry that is self-focused cannot endure. Its trajectory is
toward burnout and quitting. Paul, by contrast, encourages us through his
example to make the elect of God the focus of our ministry. This alone can
motivate us to endure “all things.”
h. 2:15 – The Approval of God (motivation)
o Timothy was to “do his best” as he fulfilled his ministry to God
and to others. This was not ultimately so that others would commend him, but so
that he could show himself “approved by God.”
i. 2:19 – The Seal of God (motivation)
o God testifies that his true people are a holy people. To hear God
testify of us that we are his- that we belong to him- ought to be a source of
great motivation for us to live uprightly.
j. 2:22 – The Community of God (motivation and power)
o Timothy was to avoid ungodliness and to pursue godliness, not alone,
but “along
with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart,” that is, in the context of a community of other faithful
followers. The coal removed from the fire soon dies out, but if it remains in
the fire, it burns long and hot. We need others and others need us to keep the
fire of devotion burning.
k. 3:10; 4:18 – The Rescue of God (motivation)
o Paul had great confidence to carry on in his difficult ministry
because he both had been rescued by God and trusted that he would be rescued in
the future. Our hope in God’s deliverance can ensure we carry on similarly.
l. 3:10, 14 – The Example of God (motivation)
o Paul gave himself as an example for Timothy and for all believers
(cf. 1 Timothy 1:16) to follow. Often, what we need to motivate us is not
merely principles, but a living person in whom the principles are on display.
m. 3:16-17 – The Word of God (power)
o The Word is given so that “the man of God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.” That is, the Scriptures are there to enable us
to do the work that God has called us to. “Competent” here is, “ἄρτιος,” meaning, “well fitted for some function” (BDAG lexicon).
“Equipped” is “ἐξηρτισμένος,” and means, “to make ready for
service” (BDAG lexicon).
n. 4:1 – The Charge of God (motivation)
o “Charge” in this verse is “διαμαρτύρομαι” and means “to exhort with authority in
matters of extraordinary importance, [frequently with reference] to higher
powers and/or suggestion of peril” (BDAG lexicon). Paul
thus seeks to motivate Timothy (and us) by stressing the extraordinary
importance of his ministry (and ours) and by connecting the ministry to the
most sacred and lofty of themes:
·
The presence of God and of Christ
·
The coming judgment of all
mankind
·
The return of Christ and the
establishment of the kingdom
o. 4:2-5 – The Truth of God (motivation)
o Passion for the truth and a concern that people would “wander off”
from it was to drive Timothy’s ministry. This same passion and concern ought to
compel us toward faithful ministry.
p. 4:6-8 – The Crown of God (motivation)
o How had Paul endured such trials and temptations in ministry and
not given up? How had he “fought the good fight,” “finished the race,” and
“kept the faith”? By keeping the prize in mind. He knew that God had promised
him eternal glory and this motivated him- and ought to motivate us- to press on
to the very end.
q. 4:17 – The Presence of God (power)
Paul had been abandoned by those close to him.
In fact, at his trial, he was utterly alone (4:16). This did not ultimately embitter or discourage him, however, for he was not actually alone: the Lord
had stood by him and strengthened him. Christ’s presence gave him the ability
to fulfill his ministry and would do the same for Timothy. May it do the same
for us as well.
