Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NLT)

By David J. Marsh

Are you one of the brave men and women serving in military, perhaps on the frontlines of battle?

Are you a runner training for a marathon?

Perhaps you are a master gardener perfecting the art of gardening or a farmer cultivating the smallest of seeds?

Paul chose these metaphors for the Christian life.

He knew his audience was intimately familiar with them. Roman military was everywhere. Sports were just as culturally relevant as they are now. Farming was a way of life and everyone ate locally.

Paul’s analogies still apply today.

Soldiers focus on their fellow warriors and the leader they serve, following his commands. While they are involved in civilian life and fight to protect it, they “don’t get tied up” in it.

Watching the Olympic athletes these past few weeks allowed us to witness the discipline required to maintain a competitive edge. We observed them following rules to avoid disqualification. And we cheered as they stood to receive the glorious prize for which they have worked and sacrificed.

Farmers work year-round, from the pre-dawn dark to the moon’s rise. The ever-evolving task list is never complete, the tending and keeping is constant. But when the farmer sits down to dinner or goes to market, his family is the primary beneficiary of this dedication to his labor.

But many of us have not served in the military, don’t play a sport, or have only seen a farm from out a window at 55 MPH. How can these metaphors help us see our lives as Christ-followers in a new light?

Paul’s analogies offer guidance for us as we seek to live the life of a disciple.

Think of these three examples as our roles as a follower of Christ:

As a soldier, how do we untangle ourselves from daily life and rejoin the battle for the kingdom?

As contenders in daily spiritual battles, where do we lack competitive discipline? Where have we fallen out of shape or taken our eye off the eternal prize?

As harvesters of spiritual fruit, how are we failing to enjoy provision from the labor God has given us to do? In what ways are we sharing the bounty with others?

Soldier. Athlete. Farmer. By the grace of God, let’s look to the Lord to help us understand how to be all three.

David J. Marsh is author of the novel The Confessions of Adam (Bold Vision Books, 2019) and the study guide A Conversation on Genesis 2-4 (Bold Vision Books, 2020). Visit him at www.davidjmarsh.com.

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