Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

Paul calls Timothy to suffer the hardships of ministry as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. One of the main things to remember in fulfilling such a calling is this: Not to get entangled in the affairs of this earthly life.

Paul gave similar instructions to the believers in Colossae:

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2).

Jesus too gave similar instructions in the Sermon on the Mount:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

To the Philippians Paul says that those who set their minds on earthly things are enemies of the cross of Christ:

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping,that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:18-20).

Friends, today is my 43rd Christmas, and my experience and preparations around this occasion have still largely concerned the affairs of this earthly life. Even as I try to impress upon my 4 1/2 year-old daughter the true meaning and significance of Christmas, I feel the weight of a competing interest, namely, "What did Santa get me for Christmas?"

Thankfully, by hearing the true message of Christmas at home, at church and at school, my little daughter knows what it is. Presently, she believes Santa is simply Jesus' helper. Perhaps combining the true message of Christas with the occasion of decorating trees, giving and receiving gifts, thinking about Santa, and having good food and fellowship with family and friends adds some fun to the celebration of Jesus' birth, which can sometimes be overly solemn and serious. 

The jury is still out for me as to the good in things like Christmas trees and presents and Santa Claus, but I realize that it is a fun holiday that the Bible never commands Christians to celebrate. As such,  we ought not to be up in arms about how it is celebrated either. The same would go for Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

Perhaps we ought to be more concerned about day to day faithfulness rather than certain uncommanded holidays that come only a few times a year. Yes, we ought to be mindful of materialism, but not just on Christmas. We should be mindful of this all year round. As for remembering Jesus' birthday on Christmas above all else, what about the command in Scripture to seek God first in everything and always (cf. Matthew 6:33). Might this emphasis on this one holiday overshadow what God has commanded in His Word? So perhaps all of us should not take this Christmas thing too seriously, but enjoy it, with and without its religious overtones, as we do any other secular holiday.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9).

As Paul reflects on their common salvation, he declares that the reason for their salvation has nothing to do with anything they did. Typically, Paul would write that it has nothing to do with "the works of the Law"; however, here he uses a broader reference to any act whatsoever, which would even include the act of believing. What is more, he writes that this salvation was solely because of God's "own purpose and grace." In other words, it was not because of anything in them but simply because of God's choice that He saved them. It is on this basis that a believer has no room for boasting (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9).

-------------------

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day (2 Timothy 1:11-12).

There are different views as to what Paul meant by the words "what I have entrusted to him." Some have suggested that Paul meant that God would preserve the Gospel, for Paul uses the same language in 2 Timothy 1:14 ("Guard the good deposit..."; cf. 1 Timothy 6:20), where this "good deposit" relates to "sound teaching" in v. 13 and the "gospel" in verses 10 and 11. However, these references differ from the present verse in that they refer to people doing the guarding and not God doing the guarding. What is more, the literal translation of our present verse reads, "he is able to guard my deposit," such that what Paul is entrusting to God is intensely personal to him, which again differentiates this from the objective Gospel message.

Therefore, it is best to take the words "what I have entrusted to him" to refer to Paul's life, soul, converts and work.  The interpretation is supported by the immediate context, where Paul discusses his ministry and suffering as "a herald and an apostle and a teacher" (2 Timothy 1:12). It is also supported by his confidence in 2 Timothy 4:18 that, "the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom." 

Paul also writes that he suffers everything "for the sake of the elect," which speaks of those whom God has chosen for salvation. So, on the one hand, Paul is guarding the Gospel to keep it from being perverted; and on the other hand, he is trusting God to guard the fruit of his Gospel ministry, namely, the saved elect until the completion of their salvation in glory:

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).

------------------------

And the things you have heard me saying the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

A (me, Paul) ---> B (you, Timothy) ---> C (reliable people) ---> D (others). Paul instructs Timothy to spread the Gospel message. Even if the case can be made that "the Great Commission" of Matthew 28:18-20 and the other Gospels and Acts was given only for the apostles, passages like this in the Epistles would confirm that the commission to preach the Gospel was not only meant for the apostles but also for all believers of every forthcoming generation.

--------------------

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

In what was probably Paul's last letter to the churches, so representing his final recorded words before his death, he writes of the importance of "correctly handling the word of truth." Just like his final words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, Paul is very concerned with sound doctrine. Paul warns Timothy against being enticed by things new and interesting and reminds him to remain faithful to what he has already been taught in the Scriptures. He gives this final charge regarding the absolute sufficiency of the Scriptures:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In other words, nothing more is needed beyond the Word of God for the servant of God to please God. It is sufficient for such a servant to know God's Word, obey God's Word and to preach God's Word. 

On the other hand, Paul warns against false teachings that would arise to challenge the sufficiency of God's Word. He says that in the future people will be less concerned with sound doctrine and more inclined to experiences that will stoke their personal desires:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Note here that Paul says to "correct, rebuke and encourage." In view of the prospect of false teachers and the corruption of biblical sufficiency, Paul emphasizes correction and rebuking over encouragement.

Some people have felt awkward around me because I can sometimes be blunt, such that a pleasant and shallow conversation can turn serious by a word of correction or a rebuke. This passage is my defense for such occasions. While I am okay with participating in all manner of shallow conversations, I try my best not to allow such shallowness to distort God's Word or His will for our lives. I pray that none of us would forget our mission in this life for the sake of pleasantries or political correctness.

There were a couple of times during this book when Paul is speaking of the return of Jesus, he is implying it will be soon.  I think in some of our other discussion (perhaps in Acts), the disciples thought Jesus would return during their lifetime.  Were they preaching at that time that He would come again soon?  Would some merely view them as doomsayers?  I know they remembered what Jesus said, about no one knowing the time...but wondered if they thought it would happen sooner rather than later.

Today, I view that Jesus will indeed return, but I have the attitude that it will happen long after I'm gone.  Perhaps that is from the typical mentality of today.  Teenagers who drink and drive often feel that deaths happen to other people, not me.  Same thing for those teenagers who practice unprotected sex (pregnancy/disease).  Most adults walk around thinking cancer or other disease happens to others, not them.  Each of these groups is geniunely surprised when something does indeed happen to them.  Should I start to adjust my thinking of His return that it may happen in my lifetime...or should I simply continue along my way, living the best life I should.  Then if it happens during my lifetime, all the more glorious?