2nd Tim.2:14] Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There are many who labor around the world, whether it be in the workplace, at home, or in any facet of their lives in their particular craft. And no one desires someone look upon their labor as being a ‘waste,’ or considered as ‘no work at all’ in their sight. And especially if the “workman” loves his craft, and desires to shew forth his craft to all, and that they too see his labor, and His dedication and love for his work. But the last thing he would want to hear is that his labor ‘just doesn’t cut it;’ and doesn’t measure up to the work of others. That “workman” who loves his craft would feel hurt, discouraged, and ashamed concerning the criticism that he had received from those who have seen his work. He knows that he has ‘put his heart into” his work, not like others who do not ‘put their heart and soul’ into their craft, but he knows that he had given his time, and labor into it, and thought many would love, and benefit from his craft.
2nd Tim.1:5] When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Therefore, just as a workman in any beloved craft desires that his labor be valued as not in vain, or unacceptable, our Father wants His workman who labors in His “work” to love the ministry, and ‘put his heart into’ the work of the Father. However, just as we have seen; if the workman’s heart isn’t into his craft, or he doesn’t fully understand the craft itself, he will receive ridicule, and his work will be in vain in the eyes of those who behold his labor. That workman would have a ‘spirit of fear’ within him to continue in that craft, and would be ashamed to labor again for those who have counted his labor as of no value. But this not how our Father wants His workmen to think, and just as 2nd Timothy 2:14 says; our words are designed to “profit” the believer in all edifying.
2nd Tim.1:16] The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
[17] But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
[18] The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
Furthermore, Timothy’s “spirit of fear” hindered the edifying of the members of the Body of Christ, and the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. His fear was produced within him because he did not fully understand the doctrine of suffering for Christ sake. He did not fully understand that those who persecuted him were not actually personally persecuting Timothy, but they were actually persecuting the Lord. And the men of this world did not ‘know,’ or appreciate the “work” of the Lord, they saw the Lord’s work as “foolish,” and did not ‘receive’ it. And just as no one is actually personally attacking the paperboy for what is written in the news, God’s Ministers are to operate upon the understanding also that we are to ‘look right through’ the persecution, and sufferings of the ministry for Christ’s sake. And that our labor will be looked as “foolish” unto the ungodly, and the men who “hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Act 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
Act 18:10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Act 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Moreover, the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ should not produce ‘shame’ within us, or “the spirit of fear,” and by operating upon His selfless love, we would not have so much “care” for the persecution we face when we preach our Lord and Savior, because whether we know it or not, when we respond to the persecution with fear, and being ashamed, we are actually being ashamed of the Lord, and afraid to declare His ministry. This why Paul told Timothy to “be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” Paul knew all about Timothy’s ailment ‘first hand,’ he also experienced this early in his ministry, but he came to understand that his Father, and His Holy Word was “with” Paul. And our Father has provided us with a remedy for our natural ailment of ‘fainting under pressure,’ and that is by His Word which produces “power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Finally, our Father has provided us with His word, and it produces the designed “power” to work effectually within us, and we are to know that we are operating upon His power, and the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to know that all of the workmen of the Lord have been persecuted, and this is because men have continued to persecute our Father’s “work,” and with that being said, they will persecute the ones who testifies of His ‘working.’ This is why it is vital in understanding what Paul meant by “needeth not to be ashamed.” And just as a representative of a business is taught in customer service, or the ‘complaint department,’ and how they are to not ‘take the persecution personally,’ we too being Our Father’s sons and daughters are laboring together with Him in His ministry, and the Holy word that He has written, and it is His words, not ours that is being rejected and persecuted. Therefore, our walking in His Selfless Love educates us to be His living sacrifice, and a sacrifice does not take offense to its designed purpose of its selfless act as the sacrifice. We too are be who God has called us to be as His sons and daughters who desire to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 