The past two weeks we have been studying the charge Paul gave to Timothy. He was to preach the word because judgment was coming from the Lord and some will not want to hear sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:1-4). Paul then gave a summary of admonitions to the young preacher: “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5).
“But you” – as opposed to the ear-tickling preachers some Christians will heap up for themselves (v. 3), Timothy was to stand firm and faithfully fulfill his charge to herald God’s saving message with all longsuffering and teaching.
1. Be Watchful in All Things. The Greek word literally means to abstain from intoxicants, but metaphorically it refers to moral alertness; to be clearheaded. The ESV renders the phrase “always be sober-minded.” The NIV reads “keep your head in all situations.” Preachers must always be in possession of themselves – their thoughts, motives, and actions. They are always “on duty” and must be careful to respond to every situation and opportunity in the proper manner.
2. Endure Afflictions. Afflictions, hardships, and sufferings are part of the work of an evangelist. It can be expected. Satan will not allow the good work of teaching the gospel to go unopposed. He will even use Christians in his attempt to discourage and defeat faithful preachers. Timothy was not to fold under these hardships. Paul had already told him, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2:3).
Young preachers can get discouraged when facing these hardships. It is not a part of the work that one expects to face. It is especially difficult when these challenges come from brethren. Preachers can complain, strike back, or give up and turn to secular work, but the Bible tells us to endure these hardships. They are a part of the work.
3. Do the Work of an Evangelist. An evangelist is a proclaimer of the gospel - a preacher. Some want to make a distinction between the two, claiming a preacher does located work while an evangelist is a traveling preacher. Others suggest that a preacher works with the saved while an evangelist preaches to the lost. These are distinctions the Bible does not make. We must be careful not to adopt the definitions or expectations of gospel preaching from our religious neighbors.
Preaching is a work. The Greek means to toil or occupy oneself with a task. The specifics of this work have been set forth in detail throughout the letters of First and Second Timothy and Titus. Some responsibilities are to study the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15); command, teach, exhort, and rebuke with all authority (1 Tim. 4:11; Titus 2:15); address specific groups within the local church (Titus 2:1-10; 1 Tim. 6:17-19); appoint elders (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5); train others to preach and teach (2 Tim. 2:2); and be careful to maintain a good example (1 Tim. 4:12-16; Titus 2:7-8).
A faithful preacher must be self-disciplined. He does not clock in at the office. He does not have a supervisor looking over his shoulder throughout the day. He has a deadline, and must motivate himself to do the work necessary to meet his weekly responsibilities (preach sermons, teach classes, publish a bulletin, etc.), while also doing the work expected of every Christian (visiting the sick, encouraging the weak and suffering, trying to teach the lost), and must be ready for unexpected situations (baptisms, members having surgeries, deaths and preaching funerals, etc.). If he is blessed with a family, he can’t neglect the responsibilities he has as a husband and father.
4. Fulfill Your Ministry. Timothy was to do everything required of him as an evangelist. He was to fulfill every obligation, leaving no area undeveloped. Preachers are men. All men are individuals, possessing their unique strengths and weaknesses. Each preacher must work to become as balanced in their abilities as possible.
Timothy must also complete his work. He was to carry it out fully to the end. While there is always more work to be done in the preaching of the gospel (the harvest is great, but the laborers are few), there is a sense in which each one bears his own load and sees his work through until to the end (2 Tim. 4:7).
Unfaithful preachers need to quit, but faithful gospel preachers need to continue in their service to the Lord and His people. This work needs to be done with zeal and enthusiasm, but the preacher must guard against “burnout.” He is in it for the long haul. The well-known admonitions to all Christians certainly apply to preachers: “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58) and “let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9).
The preacher’s task is not easy. He is charged to herald forth the truth just as God has given it. He must be ready to faithfully preach and teach the gospel on any occasion. Knowing some will turn aside from the truth, he must remain committed to his task, enduring the necessary hardships as he fulfills the charge to “Preach the Word!”