The Faithful’s Reward—2 Timothy 4:6-10
“Our love and gratitude to God for His mercy should serve as our motivation for ministry.”
Do you know the feeling of satisfaction you get when you’ve completed a task and have done your best? While you hope that others will notice and appreciate the fruit of your labor, there is a certain satisfaction just in knowing you did your best and you finished the task. And there is an even greater satisfaction if you know that your work will encourage someone else and that it will please your God. The Apostle Paul demonstrated how we can experience that same satisfaction.
Reinforce the ministry of others by encouraging them. . Paul encouraged Timothy to remain faithful to the ministry even when the going was rough: “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (II Timothy 4:5). Paul’s words of encouragement were not empty and hollow. He had been in Timothy’s shoes. He experienced the struggles of ministry. He stood ready to meet his Savior with the knowledge that he had served Jesus faithfully. “ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Have you ever known an older saint who seemed to be joyful in this life but was ready to die and meet Jesus in the next life? Such saints are a rare treasure in this world. They are great sources of encouragement to younger people struggling in their faith and ministry.
Everyone needs words of encouragement. But when those words come from someone who has already experienced life’s vast assortment of trials, they mean so much more. Thank God for the older retired ministers who still have a ministry of encouragement to younger preachers. Thank God for the elderly widows who still smile and give glory to Christ in spite of trying circumstances. And thank God for godly older couples who by word and example encourage younger couples to be faithful to their marriage vows. The world needs more of these kinds of encouragers. Who could you encourage this week?
Remember the Lord rewards faithful ministry. Paul gave us all reason to take heart. He knew that the Lord would reward faithful service . “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Our love and gratitude to God for His mercy should serve as our motivation for ministry. But God’s promised rewards for faithful service can encourage us in that service. Have you done a kind act or deed and thought that no one would notice? God did. And He rewards those who faithfully serve Him.
Resolve to be faithful even though others will not . Not everyone around Paul served the Lord as faithfully as he did. “ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica .” Demas allowed worldly attractions and desires to sidetrack him from faithful ministry. When we do not have the encouragement from others we need, we must still decide to stay on the course. We must remain faithful so that we may encourage others by our example.
Some of the greatest examples of faithfulness we have today are the older ministers of the Gospel of Christ and their sweet wives. They’ve worked jobs to support families while helping new and struggling churches to survive. Their knees have been callused from long nights in prayer. They’ve rejoiced in the salvation of souls, cried with the bereaved at the graveside, and gave needed counsel to people at 2:00 in the morning who did not want their counsel. They did it all out of a love for Jesus. They still encourage younger ministers today. Have you ever had a source of encouragement like this? Will you thank them for what they have meant to you? They surely have a reward awaiting them in Hallelujah Square!
Author: Robert W. Rohlin
This devotional first appeared August 8, 1999 in the Advancer , a Sunday school teacher’s guide published by the Baptist Publishing House . It is gratefully reproduced here with permission from the publisher.