A Teacher Instructs a Servant of the Lord GentlyBible World
2:32 Timothy 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Paul's charge calls the youthful worker to be strong in grace and to bear hardship steadfastly and faithfully as one who belongs to Christ as his only head. It was given as a dying charge while shut in prison and facing a speedy death, urging the son in the gospel not to be weak but to stand firm. The good soldier is enlisted and chosen by Christ, serving Him with wholehearted, undivided devotion and refusing entanglement in ordinary business and temporal cares in order to please the One who enlisted him. That endurance is joined to being strengthened by grace in Christ, looking to Jesus who laid aside glory and conquered in human nature, and obeying the Captain promptly without hesitation or complaint. It means self-denial and sacrifice rather than ease, persevering at the post to the end without desertion, with promise of the overcomer's crown and eternal glory beyond temporary affliction.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
The charge was spoken by Paul as a father in the gospel to Timothy his son in the gospel, a youthful worker and faithful young minister trained by experienced men of God's appointment to read the Word and explain it to others. It calls him not to be a weakling but to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, with the privilege of having power and grace for spiritual welfare. That strength is more than head knowledge of the Scriptures; it is knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, shown in prayer, diligent personal study as well as reading and teaching the Scriptures, cultivating God-given talents, maintaining connection with God, always helping where he can, and doing a work he cannot do in his own strength but only with constant need of angelic ministration. Its special work is to give attention to the things communicated by his father in the gospel, to treasure up those truths and gather up every fragment of all he has heard, and to commit them to dependable, faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.
It was given as a dying charge, dictated while Paul was shut in a dungeon, pressed with infirmities, and fearing that Nero would cut his life short before he could see Timothy again. To endure hardness in the verse means to bear hardship steadfastly and faithfully in gospel service as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The servant belongs to the One who enlisted him and has Christ as his only head, remaining devoted to Him with steadfast commitment to His cause and constancy and perseverance in duty while keeping advancing in the work.
The call to endure stands joined to being strengthened by the grace in Christ, which helps overcome temptation, perform God-given duties, and serve faithfully. It is joined to holding sound teaching in faith and love, keeping the trust by the Holy Spirit, and passing what was heard to faithful men who can teach others, whose example shows workers should learn God's word from experienced teachers, study and explain it faithfully, preserve its principles of truth, and pass them on. The good soldier does not entangle himself with the affairs of this life so he may please Christ who chose him to be a soldier, but comes up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness and does not move by erroneous opinions to counterwork God. He strives lawfully in order to be crowned, walks humbly with God as a learner before attempting to teach, labors diligently as a partaker of the fruits to share in the fruit, and seeks God's approval through rightly handling the word of truth, giving evidence by the quality of fruit borne that he is fit for positions of trust.
Soldier Under Command
The good soldier is enlisted and chosen by Christ Himself, and belongs to Him with wholehearted, undivided devotion and no separate interest. Enduring hardness means remaining committed to the One who chose and enlisted him, refusing to become entangled in ordinary business, the affairs of this life, temporal cares, self-interest, and grasping pursuit of gain or wages in order to please Him. This endurance belongs to being made strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, holding the pattern of sound words in faith and love, guarding the trust by the Holy Spirit, committing heard truth to faithful men who can teach others also, competing by the rules to be crowned, laboring first to share the crop, and rightly dividing the word of truth to stand approved before God. It forbids feeble, divided, slack work, laboring for wages, pleasing self, and living with a divided heart between self and the work, and requires entire consecration with all energies and interests thrown into the cause as those who must render a strict account.
Soldiership is prompt, unquestioning obedience to Christ the Captain, following His orders, His example, and the Bible as standard. The enlisted are to do their assigned, God-given duty without hesitation, complaint, dwelling on minor infirmities, seeking the easiest place, or leaving work undone, pressing forward equipped with God's armor toward victory. Hesitation, complaint, or unfinished work is unfaithfulness that can bring defeat and harm to others, and steadfastness is required whatever the cost, even in the face of death. This calls for entire letting go to have peace with God, entire consecration and full surrender of the whole being, laying the wealth of the affections at His feet, throwing the whole weight of influence on the Lord's side, girding on every piece of the armor, and fighting manfully without letting opposing forces lessen courage or bring despondency.
The soldier serves under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel in a well-regulated army, moving in concert and harmony under one Leader rather than acting independently. He does not act independently of those joined with him and of those given care of the churches, but moves in order with concentrated action, seeking in humble prayer the counsel of God and of one another, submitting all plans to officers and those in command and obeying them to remain bound to the great center. Independence, hasty temperament, uncertain and disorderly movements, overconfidence in personal wisdom and plans, and insistence on personal wishes refuse concert in action, waste zeal and strength, bring defeat and stain upon the cause, while self-restraint, meekness, caution, consultation with age and discernment, willing surrender, united planning, and watching unto prayer bring well-directed, successful effort that glorifies God. Like soldiers following their general, lay members as well as ministers are each expected to serve willingly and faithfully with an individual sense of responsibility, in discipline and harmony with the whole army, because self-directed work can oppose God's purposes and bring confusion.
Keeping the armor on and standing at the post until the Lord releases him is the essence of the charge, for desertion dishonors God. There is no release from this spiritual conflict while souls remain outside safety, and believers are responsible to watch against the enemy's gaining them and to labor to win them to Christ. Perseverance in full obedience to God's will through close work against Satan and his host, with steady purpose and untiring effort rather than being as impressible as wax that fire can melt into any form, is part of overcoming; those who endure to the end will be saved and receive the overcomer's reward.
The warfare is the good fight of faith against a vigilant, untiring adversary, the devil, and against darkness, error, sin, and evil through simple obedience to God the supreme Leader, not against fellow soldiers. Obedience frees from sin's control and enables overcoming of personal impulses and the powers of evil, and taking up the struggle when God calls gives valuable experience, while avoiding the fight, waiting for others to win, and then sharing the spoils is cowardice in Christ's cause. Weapons of warfare are to be directed against foes and never turned toward comrades whom God recognizes and sends, with faultfinding, abuse, severe unreasonable judgment, and making the most of every defect avoided. When a brother takes a false position, makes a mistake, and then sees his error and corrects it, he gives evidence he may be trusted not to repeat it, and fellow comrades must speak words that strengthen and help the erring recover lost ground rather than weaken with words, expose or condemn, or make a corrected mistake public before comrades and the warring enemy. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren, publicly exposing mistakes, turning the glory of God into dishonor, and giving advantage to the bitterest foes of the King are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ and dishonor to His cause, and God will charge those who unwisely expose brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than the misstep itself.
Strength for Hardship
Hardness is not borne by native resolve but by being made strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, which gives power to overcome temptation, to do the duties God assigns, and to serve faithfully instead of leaning on self. That grace is a privilege of power for the youthful worker who must not be a weakling, calling him to give attention to what he heard from his father in the gospel, to treasure up truths and gather every fragment, and to commit them to dependable men able to teach others also. God does not measure laborers by advantages enjoyed or superior education but by capacity of heart to know and understand Him, for that knowledge is life eternal and the secret spring from which flows all power to receive and practice the Word. The one so strengthened stays free from entanglement in ordinary affairs of life in order to please the One who enlisted him, strives by the rules in order to be crowned, labors diligently to share in the fruit, holds sound teaching in faith and love, and keeps the trust by the Holy Spirit. He comes up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, refuses to be moved by erroneous opinions to counterwork God, walks humbly as a learner before attempting to teach, and is first a partaker of the fruits, with the grace of God as the essential element in all service giving evidence by quality of fruit borne that he is fit for trust.
Endurance comes by looking to Jesus, who laid aside heavenly glory and lived in self-denial and suffering for sinners, and so keeps the worker from failing or becoming discouraged under hardship. He is the Author and Finisher of faith, yoked with the worker in kindness, forbearance, self-denial and self-sacrifice, and that spirit opens the way and gives success because Christ commends the worker to the people. He met and conquered Satan in human nature, resisted the very temptations faced by youth, and remains a caring Helper who watches over them, joins His righteousness to their prayers and presents them to God, enabling them to reach high ideals. His sacrifice on Calvary pledges victory, His endurance under fierce opposition gives courage to press on in faith and hope in God's strength rather than one's own, and as Captain made perfect through suffering He sets the pattern for taking up the nearest work even when it brings danger and difficulty rather than idly waiting for ease.
Power to renew the conflict is given through earnest seeking of God, prayer offered in faith, the promises of Scripture, the sword of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and the whole armor, enabling believers to move forward strong in God. Every prayer of living faith lifts above discouraging doubts and human passions and gives strength to bear trials patiently, to endure hardness in conflict with the powers of darkness, and to resist besetting sins. Christ showed this by toiling all day preaching to the multitude and healing the sick and then frequently spending the entire night in prayer to renew His labors in the morning. Victory through prayer and God's grace and strength makes faith stronger and prepares for further trials, while yielding to temptation weakens and can leave one captive to Satan, so readiness for spiritual conflict, patience under trial, trust in God, and reliance on His power to overcome are required.
God and holy angels are engaged in this conflict with the soldier, heaven watches over the work, and the Captain of the Lord's host with angels that excel in strength is present to aid. Success comes by continually looking to Jesus for help so that apparent defeats are turned into victories, with the wounds and scars of the struggle becoming trophies of victory as with Paul, and each victory leading to greater reliance on God for faithful and powerful witness. Trust in the Lord's omnipotence, meekness, and divine nature gives triumph, while trust in self brings defeat, and therefore the worker should not complain or claim credit for success, which comes through God's angels working on hearts, but praise the Lord cheerfully in encouragement and discouragement, learning through hardship to depend on God at every moment. Not everyone is a leader, yet the success of the mission depends on every worker doing assigned work faithfully, since one person's cowardice or treachery can harm the whole in fighting the good fight of faith, resisting the devil, and working to rescue people from the enemy. Ministers chosen by Him to battle for the right against a vigilant, untiring adversary must therefore be strong and valiant and wholly devoted with no separate interest, refusing entanglement in everyday business and self-interest, rejecting feeble, divided, slack work done for wages or to please self, and throwing all energies and interests into the cause as those who must render a strict account.
Character of Endurance
To endure means self-denial, cross-bearing, sacrifice, privation and willing suffering for truth, rather than seeking ease, pleasure, selfish gratification, amusement or indulgence of every whim of youth. The soldier of Christ does not let personal feelings excuse neglect of duty, but stays alert, courageous and true, bearing reproach, burdens and the cross without complaint or murmuring and remaining patient in tribulation. This endurance belongs to every believer with a part in saving souls, supporting unselfish work with Christ, helping the poor, sharing His sympathies and advancing His cause to save souls, and it brings honor to His name. Selfish gratification is a snare and curse that misapplies abilities and means, hinders growth in Christian experience, blocks entry into the narrow heavenward path, and leaves one unstable like a reed in the wind, so youth must be taught and equipped for highest service to the Master instead of being sustained in selfish indulgence. The character formed by this choice decides eternal destiny.
Like a literal soldier, the Christian accepts coarse food and short rations, long weary marches over rough roads in burning heat and winter cold, camping in open air exposed to rain and frost, exhaustion, danger, loss, risk to health and life, and soul-rending conflict. The life is wartime soldiering under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel against a vigilant enemy never off guard, not a life exempt from trials or guaranteed comfort and luxury, with powerful adversaries, demanding work and painful trials. God's claims are higher than a country's, so if earthly soldiers leave home for bloodshed, face peril, hunger, weariness, loneliness, footsore marches, loss of time to eat and risk of life itself with conquer or die as motto and follow their commander, Christ's soldiers should still more willingly endure privation, self-denial, hardship, trials and any cost for His sake. Expecting pleasantness and ease and then meeting real trial often proves fatal to Christianity, and God does not give the reward to a life of self-indulgence and pleasure. Christ Himself as Captain of salvation was made perfect through suffering to bring many sons and daughters to God, setting the pattern for endurance.
The soldier is diligent, bold, courageous, persevering and firm, willing to suffer while doing God's will, pressing forward without murmuring, complaint, faintheartedness, seeking the easiest place, or stopping to dwell on minor infirmities. Service calls for prompt and unquestioning obedience to Christ's commands and the Captain's orders toward victory even when they cross one's own wishes or the reason is not seen, equipped with God's armor, for hesitation, complaint or leaving work undone is unfaithfulness that can bring defeat and harm to others. Those enlisted must remain steadfast whatever the cost even in face of death, with constancy faithfully carrying out duty and fighting the good fight of faith without complaint in spiritual opposition. By continually looking to Jesus for help apparent defeats are turned into victories, and the wounds and scars of the struggle become trophies of victory, as they did for Paul. The arduous labors of Jesus, Martin Luther and other reformers show this pattern of courage, zeal and greater effort rather than discouragement, not shunning responsibilities but becoming whole-hearted and thoroughly converted with lives joined to Christ and laboring earnestly and unselfishly to save souls without shrinking from toil and weariness, doing difficult work that taxes every power and grappling with hard problems in the love and fear of God.
Hardship tests and proves character like a refining furnace and God's workshop, removing faults and leaving what is pure, calling for recognizing and correcting wrongs including selfishness, self-exaltation, jealousy, sensitiveness, self-conceit and passionate spirit. Enduring means choosing life over death by letting truth elevate, refine taste, sanctify judgment and make one more like Christ and heavenly minded, submitting now to being hewed and refined without blemish to be fitted for a place in God's building that comes together without sound of axe or hammer, so at last to see the King in His beauty and possess everlasting life. It requires reform, submission to correction, patient continuance in well-doing, redeeming the time, taking hold of the work with new earnestness, setting a godly example, restraining and disciplining children, resisting temptation, overcoming defects of character, and persevering through strong effort, constant watchfulness and prayer following Christ as perfect overcomer. The test of character is willingness to carry burdens, accept difficult responsibilities and do needed work even without earthly recognition or reward, with trials and discipline met and transformed rather than escaped, their pain outweighed by higher joy. This includes spiritual discipline and the difficult work of crucifying self and controlling self, which though it may not bring immediate satisfaction results in peace and happiness, bearing little trials without being easily offended or provoked, keeping the heart from selfishness and expanding it with love, doing the work given without neglect, and growing to full stature. Endurance is possible because Jesus is acquainted with every conflict, trial and pang of anguish, was tempted in all points yet without sin and will help, so the soldier goes to Him with burdens, makes Him the burden-bearer, and thereby gains more thorough religious experience, with God-given wisdom to face difficulties and persevere.
Faithful endurance looks beyond temporary affliction to the eternal glory it works, looking past temporal things seen to eternal things unseen. Those who depend on Christ's strength to endure faithfully under temptation can resist selfish demands and remain uncorrupted, true, pure and holy, complete in Him with names recorded in heaven as overcomers. Perseverance in full obedience to God's will through trials is part of overcoming, and those who endure receive the overcomer's reward. Men and women of earnest faith show the missionary spirit by accepting hardship in unselfish, self-denying labor, going outside comfort to bear reproach for Jesus and work with God to seek and save the lost, awakened to do what they can because He left heaven and gave His life for the unjust, with His coming with power and great glory as urgency and hearing Thou good and faithful servant as reward. Christians are to be bold and undaunted soldiers doing their work while looking toward the heavenly reward, with promise of the crown of life, the King's approval and victory through Providence after doing one's best.
Entrusting Truth to Others
The special work of endurance is to pay close attention to what has been heard, treasure up those truths, gather up every fragment of all that has been heard, and commit them to dependable, faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. This charge was given to a youth as a son in the gospel, not to be a weakling but to be strong in grace with the privilege of power and grace, enduring hardship rather than avoiding difficulty or responsibility. That strength enables overcoming temptation, performing appointed duties, serving faithfully, and passing on received knowledge to trustworthy people who can teach others. It means more than head knowledge of the Scriptures, calling for spiritual welfare, knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, prayer, diligent personal study as well as reading and teaching, learning from experienced teachers, studying and explaining faithfully, and preserving principles of truth. It is joined to holding sound teaching in faith and love, keeping the trust by the Holy Spirit, staying free from entangling affairs of life in order to please Christ who chose him, striving by the rules in order to be crowned, laboring diligently to share in the fruit, coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, and refusing to move by erroneous opinions to counterwork God. The good soldier walks humbly as a learner before attempting to teach, is first a partaker of the fruits with the grace of God as the essential element in all service, and gives evidence by the quality of fruit borne that he is fit for positions of trust.
God does not choose or value laborers according to advantages enjoyed or superior education received but according to capacity of heart to know and understand God. That knowledge is life eternal and the highest possible good, the secret spring from which flows all power to receive and practice the word of God. Service is therefore grounded not in education or worldly advantages but in knowing God, with endurance held firm under hardship by reliance on the grace found in Christ.
Becoming a good soldier requires earnest, careful, thorough preparation for spiritual warfare and readiness to serve in battles against tradition, superstition, and error. Those serving must place themselves under faithful training so they are fitted for service, learning duties and obedience before they are fit to lead or command. They must be disciplined, diligent, and active in advancing the work of saving the lost, cooperating with God rather than neglecting duties or drifting along, with earnest obedience tied to receiving eternal life. That preparation is physical, mental, and moral, cultivating talents and maintaining connection with God, while training for competitive games and sports does not fit for this warfare. Training the young to become true soldiers is a noble work.
Enduring hardness is to be brought into practical life when a special evangelistic effort is being made, by searching the heart, confessing and repenting of sin, clearing the King's highway, helping with means, living in perfect harmony, attending armed and equipped for service, talking with any who are interested, praying and working for the lost sheep, and laboring together with Him. It refuses a self-satisfied, indifferent, backslidden condition during special blessing, staying awake to obligation and acting a part to sustain the work, praying through daily duties, drawing strength from Christ with deep gratitude, and taking an active, prepared part rather than leaving the burden to others. Each worker is to stand as a faithful soldier, laboring for and alongside fellow believers in saving souls without failing or becoming discouraged, making earnest efforts to reach a higher standard and to use the power God has given. Each person who joins has a duty and should be willing to serve wherever needed, denying self, working for the conversion of those under Satan's power, continuing the battle without delay, and doing his or her part though not everyone serves in the same way, with men, women, and children cooperating and with no hindering of workers merely because their work does not follow regular lines. Determined effort in advancing the message brings joy and success.
Faithful advance avoids pursuing novel, speculative questions and unessential theories, since salvation does not depend on such side issues, and instead presses forward faithfully in the work while enduring hardship.
Faithfulness in Life and Mission
A minister of Christ must endure hardship rather than avoid difficulty or responsibility, drawing strength from God's grace in Christ to overcome temptation and perform the duties God gives him. That grace enables faithful service and the passing on of received knowledge to trustworthy people who can teach others, while forbidding feeble, divided and slack work. The good soldier chosen by Christ to battle for the right against the vigilant, untiring devil is aided by God and holy angels and must be strong, valiant and wholly devoted with no separate interest, refusing entanglement in everyday business and self-interest in order to please the One who enlisted him. Such consecration throws all energies and interests into God's cause as one who must render a strict account, rejecting laboring for wages, pleasing self, and living with a divided heart between self and the work. Perseverance requires courage and energy in instructing those willing to hear, refusing to become faint-hearted, distrustful, discouraged or to drop the work for personal ease.
Allowing an interest to decline and losing a possible ingathering of souls when a golden opportunity requires persistence violates the charge, while keeping it requires putting on the whole armor and willingly spending and being spent to bring souls to Christ. Anyone unwilling to pay that cost should give up the ministry for another calling, and instead the faithful pattern is courage, zeal and greater effort without easy discouragement, following the arduous labors of Jesus, Martin Luther and other reformers. The servant must not shun responsibilities but become whole-hearted and thoroughly converted with life joined to Christ, laboring earnestly and unselfishly to save souls without shrinking from toil and weariness. When laboring among those filled with bitter prejudice he must not be too easily discouraged by difficulties or the fiercest opposition, but go forth not in his own name but in the might and power of Israel's God, humble, teachable and hidden in God. With melting love, pity and tenderness he clings to Christ, is willing to be counseled by more experienced brethren, takes courage from Christ who endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself, presses on in faith, courage and hope, instructs persistently, preserves strength for decisive appeals, cares for worn workers, and learns from veteran and aged workers rather than passing them by.
The charge with its surrounding instructions to Timothy is to guide and educate every household, family and school in enduring hardship in Christ's service as a good soldier. Young men and young women in home life are to take up appointed work and endure hardness, throwing off all inclination to sloth, taking hold of the light given and holding it fast, and cultivating the talent of imparting truth to others. Those who do not cultivate imparting will soon lose power to do the work for this time, for soldier endurance requires physical, mental and moral power exercised in God's service, with heavenly angels close by as talents are so exercised. Following Christ requires enduring hardship because Christians live in enemy territory and should expect difficulty and conflict, so youth must be prepared to face them rather than given an easy life or money without learning self-denial and economy. Children are to be trained from an early age to bear burdens, accept discipline, share home duties, practice economy and self-denial, carry responsibility, enlist as valiant soldiers, and use vigor and talents for Christ rather than being left in ease or indulgence.
Waldensian children were trained from childhood to bear trials, accept discipline, and face even possible martyrdom rather than yield principles of truth, while also being taught to think and act for themselves, speak carefully, bear responsibility, and understand the value of silence when careless words could endanger many believers. Missionary endurance means braving hardship and danger to reach precious souls in out-of-the-way places, leaving families and making many other sacrifices for the cause loved more than anything else, making God's cause first and going forward cheerfully without demanding higher pay. Such example leads others to follow and to know the Lord more perfectly, for God guards such workers, regards their determination, honors them as good soldiers, sees every sacrifice, sees the end from the beginning, and cares for, blesses and gives success and victory to everyone who remains faithful, in the same spirit of self-sacrifice shown when God gave His only begotten Son to save fallen man. Jesus calls for volunteers to be self-denying, self-sacrificing soldiers of His cross who endure hardship in carrying forward the work He came in human flesh to accomplish and in fighting the last great battle in His behalf as Redeemer. Enduring means laboring together with God in a work of faith, yoking up with Him, following in His footprints, discerning the signs of the times, and giving self to the perilous undertaking of seeking precious souls even in the pit of degradation, where even the ignorant become fit vessels if meek, lowly and whole-hearted, without losing purity among the impure.
Men and women of earnest faith show the missionary spirit by accepting hardship in unselfish, self-denying labor, going outside comfort to bear reproach for Jesus and working together with God to seek and save the lost, awakened to do what they can because He left heaven and gave His life for the unjust, with His coming with power and great glory as urgency and hearing Thou good and faithful servant as reward. Christ's workers as soldiers who endure hardship serve boldly by willingly sacrificing comforts, work and even company of loved ones for Christ and the gospel, without letting grief over what they left make them ineffective or treating ordinary inconvenience as martyrdom. They must be ready for spiritual conflict as courageous soldiers against error, steadfastly seeking God's glory, not fainthearted but prepared for battle and relying on God to make the weak strong and valiant. Young and mature believers should accept God-given responsibility, eagerly take up the work and serve faithfully as soldiers of Christ, overcoming obstacles and gaining victories as the Spirit works with them, breaking fallow ground in new fields, sacrificing ease and higher pay, and laboring into old age through closed ways and lack of means. God guards, honors and gives success to such self-sacrifice.
Scripture and history show what this endurance requires, for Mark failed the test when danger, persecution and privation discouraged him and he returned to Jerusalem, still having to learn to face adversity bravely. Paul considered patience, bravery, devotion, faith and willingness to sacrifice necessary for the work, while Barnabas helped Mark grow into a useful worker. A good soldier must endure the dangers and privations of missionary work with courage rather than fail as Mark first did, and ministers must follow the arduous labors of Jesus, Luther and other reformers with courage, zeal and greater effort. Jeremiah though young spoke without fear against fierce opposition, Waldensian children were trained to bear trials and possible martyrdom, and Whitefield and the Wesleys were prepared through painful conviction of their lost condition and through scorn, derision, ridicule and persecution at the university and as they entered ministry. Luther and the reformers labored arduously and Caleb stood firmly for right.
In daily life the soldier proves enlistment by a changed life, remaining committed to the One who chose him rather than being drawn away by worldly concerns, so that dishonest or grasping pursuit of money is incompatible with faithful service. One who claims the soldier's place but joins the enemy's cause is not neutral, for divided service makes him an ally of forces opposed to Christ and a betrayer of sacred trust, helping the enemy draw Christ's soldiers away. Students returning home as soldiers of Christ are expected to have moral courage to preserve religious character and influence, standing for Christ at duty. The follower serves as His soldier and endures the struggle against temptation, including bearing taunts from corrupt companions, with victory by looking to and trusting in Jesus who heals the serpent's stings. Youth are urged to serve Jesus Christ while Satan seeks to enlist them in his ranks through pleasures and customs that draw affections away, and Christ's followers must recognize and resist the enemy rather than trust him, becoming increasingly fit for His work, with failure to gain that fitness their own responsibility.
Keeping God's commandments, resisting the enemy and harmful habits, defending truth and right at any loss like Noah and Daniel, drawing others to Jesus, guarding speech, protecting the young, and refusing jesting, worldly amusements, politics, divisive family claims, and neglect of health and duty all mark the faithful soldier's daily proof of enlistment.
Paul's charge calls the youthful worker to be strong in grace and to bear hardship steadfastly and faithfully as one who belongs to Christ as his only head. It was given as a dying charge while shut in prison and facing a speedy death, urging the son in the gospel not to be weak but to stand firm. The good soldier is enlisted and chosen by Christ, serving Him with wholehearted, undivided devotion and refusing entanglement in ordinary business and temporal cares in order to please the One who enlisted him. That endurance is joined to being strengthened by grace in Christ, looking to Jesus who laid aside glory and conquered in human nature, and obeying the Captain promptly without hesitation or complaint. It means self-denial and sacrifice rather than ease, persevering at the post to the end without desertion, with promise of the overcomer's crown and eternal glory beyond temporary affliction.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
The charge was spoken by Paul as a father in the gospel to Timothy his son in the gospel, a youthful worker and faithful young minister trained by experienced men of God's appointment to read the Word and explain it to others. It calls him not to be a weakling but to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, with the privilege of having power and grace for spiritual welfare. That strength is more than head knowledge of the Scriptures; it is knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, shown in prayer, diligent personal study as well as reading and teaching the Scriptures, cultivating God-given talents, maintaining connection with God, always helping where he can, and doing a work he cannot do in his own strength but only with constant need of angelic ministration. Its special work is to give attention to the things communicated by his father in the gospel, to treasure up those truths and gather up every fragment of all he has heard, and to commit them to dependable, faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.
It was given as a dying charge, dictated while Paul was shut in a dungeon, pressed with infirmities, and fearing that Nero would cut his life short before he could see Timothy again. To endure hardness in the verse means to bear hardship steadfastly and faithfully in gospel service as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The servant belongs to the One who enlisted him and has Christ as his only head, remaining devoted to Him with steadfast commitment to His cause and constancy and perseverance in duty while keeping advancing in the work.
The call to endure stands joined to being strengthened by the grace in Christ, which helps overcome temptation, perform God-given duties, and serve faithfully. It is joined to holding sound teaching in faith and love, keeping the trust by the Holy Spirit, and passing what was heard to faithful men who can teach others, whose example shows workers should learn God's word from experienced teachers, study and explain it faithfully, preserve its principles of truth, and pass them on. The good soldier does not entangle himself with the affairs of this life so he may please Christ who chose him to be a soldier, but comes up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness and does not move by erroneous opinions to counterwork God. He strives lawfully in order to be crowned, walks humbly with God as a learner before attempting to teach, labors diligently as a partaker of the fruits to share in the fruit, and seeks God's approval through rightly handling the word of truth, giving evidence by the quality of fruit borne that he is fit for positions of trust.
Soldier Under Command
The good soldier is enlisted and chosen by Christ Himself, and belongs to Him with wholehearted, undivided devotion and no separate interest. Enduring hardness means remaining committed to the One who chose and enlisted him, refusing to become entangled in ordinary business, the affairs of this life, temporal cares, self-interest, and grasping pursuit of gain or wages in order to please Him. This endurance belongs to being made strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, holding the pattern of sound words in faith and love, guarding the trust by the Holy Spirit, committing heard truth to faithful men who can teach others also, competing by the rules to be crowned, laboring first to share the crop, and rightly dividing the word of truth to stand approved before God. It forbids feeble, divided, slack work, laboring for wages, pleasing self, and living with a divided heart between self and the work, and requires entire consecration with all energies and interests thrown into the cause as those who must render a strict account.
Soldiership is prompt, unquestioning obedience to Christ the Captain, following His orders, His example, and the Bible as standard. The enlisted are to do their assigned, God-given duty without hesitation, complaint, dwelling on minor infirmities, seeking the easiest place, or leaving work undone, pressing forward equipped with God's armor toward victory. Hesitation, complaint, or unfinished work is unfaithfulness that can bring defeat and harm to others, and steadfastness is required whatever the cost, even in the face of death. This calls for entire letting go to have peace with God, entire consecration and full surrender of the whole being, laying the wealth of the affections at His feet, throwing the whole weight of influence on the Lord's side, girding on every piece of the armor, and fighting manfully without letting opposing forces lessen courage or bring despondency.
The soldier serves under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel in a well-regulated army, moving in concert and harmony under one Leader rather than acting independently. He does not act independently of those joined with him and of those given care of the churches, but moves in order with concentrated action, seeking in humble prayer the counsel of God and of one another, submitting all plans to officers and those in command and obeying them to remain bound to the great center. Independence, hasty temperament, uncertain and disorderly movements, overconfidence in personal wisdom and plans, and insistence on personal wishes refuse concert in action, waste zeal and strength, bring defeat and stain upon the cause, while self-restraint, meekness, caution, consultation with age and discernment, willing surrender, united planning, and watching unto prayer bring well-directed, successful effort that glorifies God. Like soldiers following their general, lay members as well as ministers are each expected to serve willingly and faithfully with an individual sense of responsibility, in discipline and harmony with the whole army, because self-directed work can oppose God's purposes and bring confusion.
Keeping the armor on and standing at the post until the Lord releases him is the essence of the charge, for desertion dishonors God. There is no release from this spiritual conflict while souls remain outside safety, and believers are responsible to watch against the enemy's gaining them and to labor to win them to Christ. Perseverance in full obedience to God's will through close work against Satan and his host, with steady purpose and untiring effort rather than being as impressible as wax that fire can melt into any form, is part of overcoming; those who endure to the end will be saved and receive the overcomer's reward.
The warfare is the good fight of faith against a vigilant, untiring adversary, the devil, and against darkness, error, sin, and evil through simple obedience to God the supreme Leader, not against fellow soldiers. Obedience frees from sin's control and enables overcoming of personal impulses and the powers of evil, and taking up the struggle when God calls gives valuable experience, while avoiding the fight, waiting for others to win, and then sharing the spoils is cowardice in Christ's cause. Weapons of warfare are to be directed against foes and never turned toward comrades whom God recognizes and sends, with faultfinding, abuse, severe unreasonable judgment, and making the most of every defect avoided. When a brother takes a false position, makes a mistake, and then sees his error and corrects it, he gives evidence he may be trusted not to repeat it, and fellow comrades must speak words that strengthen and help the erring recover lost ground rather than weaken with words, expose or condemn, or make a corrected mistake public before comrades and the warring enemy. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren, publicly exposing mistakes, turning the glory of God into dishonor, and giving advantage to the bitterest foes of the King are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ and dishonor to His cause, and God will charge those who unwisely expose brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than the misstep itself.
Strength for Hardship
Hardness is not borne by native resolve but by being made strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, which gives power to overcome temptation, to do the duties God assigns, and to serve faithfully instead of leaning on self. That grace is a privilege of power for the youthful worker who must not be a weakling, calling him to give attention to what he heard from his father in the gospel, to treasure up truths and gather every fragment, and to commit them to dependable men able to teach others also. God does not measure laborers by advantages enjoyed or superior education but by capacity of heart to know and understand Him, for that knowledge is life eternal and the secret spring from which flows all power to receive and practice the Word. The one so strengthened stays free from entanglement in ordinary affairs of life in order to please the One who enlisted him, strives by the rules in order to be crowned, labors diligently to share in the fruit, holds sound teaching in faith and love, and keeps the trust by the Holy Spirit. He comes up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, refuses to be moved by erroneous opinions to counterwork God, walks humbly as a learner before attempting to teach, and is first a partaker of the fruits, with the grace of God as the essential element in all service giving evidence by quality of fruit borne that he is fit for trust.
Endurance comes by looking to Jesus, who laid aside heavenly glory and lived in self-denial and suffering for sinners, and so keeps the worker from failing or becoming discouraged under hardship. He is the Author and Finisher of faith, yoked with the worker in kindness, forbearance, self-denial and self-sacrifice, and that spirit opens the way and gives success because Christ commends the worker to the people. He met and conquered Satan in human nature, resisted the very temptations faced by youth, and remains a caring Helper who watches over them, joins His righteousness to their prayers and presents them to God, enabling them to reach high ideals. His sacrifice on Calvary pledges victory, His endurance under fierce opposition gives courage to press on in faith and hope in God's strength rather than one's own, and as Captain made perfect through suffering He sets the pattern for taking up the nearest work even when it brings danger and difficulty rather than idly waiting for ease.
Power to renew the conflict is given through earnest seeking of God, prayer offered in faith, the promises of Scripture, the sword of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and the whole armor, enabling believers to move forward strong in God. Every prayer of living faith lifts above discouraging doubts and human passions and gives strength to bear trials patiently, to endure hardness in conflict with the powers of darkness, and to resist besetting sins. Christ showed this by toiling all day preaching to the multitude and healing the sick and then frequently spending the entire night in prayer to renew His labors in the morning. Victory through prayer and God's grace and strength makes faith stronger and prepares for further trials, while yielding to temptation weakens and can leave one captive to Satan, so readiness for spiritual conflict, patience under trial, trust in God, and reliance on His power to overcome are required.
God and holy angels are engaged in this conflict with the soldier, heaven watches over the work, and the Captain of the Lord's host with angels that excel in strength is present to aid. Success comes by continually looking to Jesus for help so that apparent defeats are turned into victories, with the wounds and scars of the struggle becoming trophies of victory as with Paul, and each victory leading to greater reliance on God for faithful and powerful witness. Trust in the Lord's omnipotence, meekness, and divine nature gives triumph, while trust in self brings defeat, and therefore the worker should not complain or claim credit for success, which comes through God's angels working on hearts, but praise the Lord cheerfully in encouragement and discouragement, learning through hardship to depend on God at every moment. Not everyone is a leader, yet the success of the mission depends on every worker doing assigned work faithfully, since one person's cowardice or treachery can harm the whole in fighting the good fight of faith, resisting the devil, and working to rescue people from the enemy. Ministers chosen by Him to battle for the right against a vigilant, untiring adversary must therefore be strong and valiant and wholly devoted with no separate interest, refusing entanglement in everyday business and self-interest, rejecting feeble, divided, slack work done for wages or to please self, and throwing all energies and interests into the cause as those who must render a strict account.
Character of Endurance
To endure means self-denial, cross-bearing, sacrifice, privation and willing suffering for truth, rather than seeking ease, pleasure, selfish gratification, amusement or indulgence of every whim of youth. The soldier of Christ does not let personal feelings excuse neglect of duty, but stays alert, courageous and true, bearing reproach, burdens and the cross without complaint or murmuring and remaining patient in tribulation. This endurance belongs to every believer with a part in saving souls, supporting unselfish work with Christ, helping the poor, sharing His sympathies and advancing His cause to save souls, and it brings honor to His name. Selfish gratification is a snare and curse that misapplies abilities and means, hinders growth in Christian experience, blocks entry into the narrow heavenward path, and leaves one unstable like a reed in the wind, so youth must be taught and equipped for highest service to the Master instead of being sustained in selfish indulgence. The character formed by this choice decides eternal destiny.
Like a literal soldier, the Christian accepts coarse food and short rations, long weary marches over rough roads in burning heat and winter cold, camping in open air exposed to rain and frost, exhaustion, danger, loss, risk to health and life, and soul-rending conflict. The life is wartime soldiering under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel against a vigilant enemy never off guard, not a life exempt from trials or guaranteed comfort and luxury, with powerful adversaries, demanding work and painful trials. God's claims are higher than a country's, so if earthly soldiers leave home for bloodshed, face peril, hunger, weariness, loneliness, footsore marches, loss of time to eat and risk of life itself with conquer or die as motto and follow their commander, Christ's soldiers should still more willingly endure privation, self-denial, hardship, trials and any cost for His sake. Expecting pleasantness and ease and then meeting real trial often proves fatal to Christianity, and God does not give the reward to a life of self-indulgence and pleasure. Christ Himself as Captain of salvation was made perfect through suffering to bring many sons and daughters to God, setting the pattern for endurance.
The soldier is diligent, bold, courageous, persevering and firm, willing to suffer while doing God's will, pressing forward without murmuring, complaint, faintheartedness, seeking the easiest place, or stopping to dwell on minor infirmities. Service calls for prompt and unquestioning obedience to Christ's commands and the Captain's orders toward victory even when they cross one's own wishes or the reason is not seen, equipped with God's armor, for hesitation, complaint or leaving work undone is unfaithfulness that can bring defeat and harm to others. Those enlisted must remain steadfast whatever the cost even in face of death, with constancy faithfully carrying out duty and fighting the good fight of faith without complaint in spiritual opposition. By continually looking to Jesus for help apparent defeats are turned into victories, and the wounds and scars of the struggle become trophies of victory, as they did for Paul. The arduous labors of Jesus, Martin Luther and other reformers show this pattern of courage, zeal and greater effort rather than discouragement, not shunning responsibilities but becoming whole-hearted and thoroughly converted with lives joined to Christ and laboring earnestly and unselfishly to save souls without shrinking from toil and weariness, doing difficult work that taxes every power and grappling with hard problems in the love and fear of God.
Hardship tests and proves character like a refining furnace and God's workshop, removing faults and leaving what is pure, calling for recognizing and correcting wrongs including selfishness, self-exaltation, jealousy, sensitiveness, self-conceit and passionate spirit. Enduring means choosing life over death by letting truth elevate, refine taste, sanctify judgment and make one more like Christ and heavenly minded, submitting now to being hewed and refined without blemish to be fitted for a place in God's building that comes together without sound of axe or hammer, so at last to see the King in His beauty and possess everlasting life. It requires reform, submission to correction, patient continuance in well-doing, redeeming the time, taking hold of the work with new earnestness, setting a godly example, restraining and disciplining children, resisting temptation, overcoming defects of character, and persevering through strong effort, constant watchfulness and prayer following Christ as perfect overcomer. The test of character is willingness to carry burdens, accept difficult responsibilities and do needed work even without earthly recognition or reward, with trials and discipline met and transformed rather than escaped, their pain outweighed by higher joy. This includes spiritual discipline and the difficult work of crucifying self and controlling self, which though it may not bring immediate satisfaction results in peace and happiness, bearing little trials without being easily offended or provoked, keeping the heart from selfishness and expanding it with love, doing the work given without neglect, and growing to full stature. Endurance is possible because Jesus is acquainted with every conflict, trial and pang of anguish, was tempted in all points yet without sin and will help, so the soldier goes to Him with burdens, makes Him the burden-bearer, and thereby gains more thorough religious experience, with God-given wisdom to face difficulties and persevere.
Faithful endurance looks beyond temporary affliction to the eternal glory it works, looking past temporal things seen to eternal things unseen. Those who depend on Christ's strength to endure faithfully under temptation can resist selfish demands and remain uncorrupted, true, pure and holy, complete in Him with names recorded in heaven as overcomers. Perseverance in full obedience to God's will through trials is part of overcoming, and those who endure receive the overcomer's reward. Men and women of earnest faith show the missionary spirit by accepting hardship in unselfish, self-denying labor, going outside comfort to bear reproach for Jesus and work with God to seek and save the lost, awakened to do what they can because He left heaven and gave His life for the unjust, with His coming with power and great glory as urgency and hearing Thou good and faithful servant as reward. Christians are to be bold and undaunted soldiers doing their work while looking toward the heavenly reward, with promise of the crown of life, the King's approval and victory through Providence after doing one's best.
Entrusting Truth to Others
The special work of endurance is to pay close attention to what has been heard, treasure up those truths, gather up every fragment of all that has been heard, and commit them to dependable, faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. This charge was given to a youth as a son in the gospel, not to be a weakling but to be strong in grace with the privilege of power and grace, enduring hardship rather than avoiding difficulty or responsibility. That strength enables overcoming temptation, performing appointed duties, serving faithfully, and passing on received knowledge to trustworthy people who can teach others. It means more than head knowledge of the Scriptures, calling for spiritual welfare, knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, prayer, diligent personal study as well as reading and teaching, learning from experienced teachers, studying and explaining faithfully, and preserving principles of truth. It is joined to holding sound teaching in faith and love, keeping the trust by the Holy Spirit, staying free from entangling affairs of life in order to please Christ who chose him, striving by the rules in order to be crowned, laboring diligently to share in the fruit, coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, and refusing to move by erroneous opinions to counterwork God. The good soldier walks humbly as a learner before attempting to teach, is first a partaker of the fruits with the grace of God as the essential element in all service, and gives evidence by the quality of fruit borne that he is fit for positions of trust.
God does not choose or value laborers according to advantages enjoyed or superior education received but according to capacity of heart to know and understand God. That knowledge is life eternal and the highest possible good, the secret spring from which flows all power to receive and practice the word of God. Service is therefore grounded not in education or worldly advantages but in knowing God, with endurance held firm under hardship by reliance on the grace found in Christ.
Becoming a good soldier requires earnest, careful, thorough preparation for spiritual warfare and readiness to serve in battles against tradition, superstition, and error. Those serving must place themselves under faithful training so they are fitted for service, learning duties and obedience before they are fit to lead or command. They must be disciplined, diligent, and active in advancing the work of saving the lost, cooperating with God rather than neglecting duties or drifting along, with earnest obedience tied to receiving eternal life. That preparation is physical, mental, and moral, cultivating talents and maintaining connection with God, while training for competitive games and sports does not fit for this warfare. Training the young to become true soldiers is a noble work.
Enduring hardness is to be brought into practical life when a special evangelistic effort is being made, by searching the heart, confessing and repenting of sin, clearing the King's highway, helping with means, living in perfect harmony, attending armed and equipped for service, talking with any who are interested, praying and working for the lost sheep, and laboring together with Him. It refuses a self-satisfied, indifferent, backslidden condition during special blessing, staying awake to obligation and acting a part to sustain the work, praying through daily duties, drawing strength from Christ with deep gratitude, and taking an active, prepared part rather than leaving the burden to others. Each worker is to stand as a faithful soldier, laboring for and alongside fellow believers in saving souls without failing or becoming discouraged, making earnest efforts to reach a higher standard and to use the power God has given. Each person who joins has a duty and should be willing to serve wherever needed, denying self, working for the conversion of those under Satan's power, continuing the battle without delay, and doing his or her part though not everyone serves in the same way, with men, women, and children cooperating and with no hindering of workers merely because their work does not follow regular lines. Determined effort in advancing the message brings joy and success.
Faithful advance avoids pursuing novel, speculative questions and unessential theories, since salvation does not depend on such side issues, and instead presses forward faithfully in the work while enduring hardship.
Faithfulness in Life and Mission
A minister of Christ must endure hardship rather than avoid difficulty or responsibility, drawing strength from God's grace in Christ to overcome temptation and perform the duties God gives him. That grace enables faithful service and the passing on of received knowledge to trustworthy people who can teach others, while forbidding feeble, divided and slack work. The good soldier chosen by Christ to battle for the right against the vigilant, untiring devil is aided by God and holy angels and must be strong, valiant and wholly devoted with no separate interest, refusing entanglement in everyday business and self-interest in order to please the One who enlisted him. Such consecration throws all energies and interests into God's cause as one who must render a strict account, rejecting laboring for wages, pleasing self, and living with a divided heart between self and the work. Perseverance requires courage and energy in instructing those willing to hear, refusing to become faint-hearted, distrustful, discouraged or to drop the work for personal ease.
Allowing an interest to decline and losing a possible ingathering of souls when a golden opportunity requires persistence violates the charge, while keeping it requires putting on the whole armor and willingly spending and being spent to bring souls to Christ. Anyone unwilling to pay that cost should give up the ministry for another calling, and instead the faithful pattern is courage, zeal and greater effort without easy discouragement, following the arduous labors of Jesus, Martin Luther and other reformers. The servant must not shun responsibilities but become whole-hearted and thoroughly converted with life joined to Christ, laboring earnestly and unselfishly to save souls without shrinking from toil and weariness. When laboring among those filled with bitter prejudice he must not be too easily discouraged by difficulties or the fiercest opposition, but go forth not in his own name but in the might and power of Israel's God, humble, teachable and hidden in God. With melting love, pity and tenderness he clings to Christ, is willing to be counseled by more experienced brethren, takes courage from Christ who endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself, presses on in faith, courage and hope, instructs persistently, preserves strength for decisive appeals, cares for worn workers, and learns from veteran and aged workers rather than passing them by.
The charge with its surrounding instructions to Timothy is to guide and educate every household, family and school in enduring hardship in Christ's service as a good soldier. Young men and young women in home life are to take up appointed work and endure hardness, throwing off all inclination to sloth, taking hold of the light given and holding it fast, and cultivating the talent of imparting truth to others. Those who do not cultivate imparting will soon lose power to do the work for this time, for soldier endurance requires physical, mental and moral power exercised in God's service, with heavenly angels close by as talents are so exercised. Following Christ requires enduring hardship because Christians live in enemy territory and should expect difficulty and conflict, so youth must be prepared to face them rather than given an easy life or money without learning self-denial and economy. Children are to be trained from an early age to bear burdens, accept discipline, share home duties, practice economy and self-denial, carry responsibility, enlist as valiant soldiers, and use vigor and talents for Christ rather than being left in ease or indulgence.
Waldensian children were trained from childhood to bear trials, accept discipline, and face even possible martyrdom rather than yield principles of truth, while also being taught to think and act for themselves, speak carefully, bear responsibility, and understand the value of silence when careless words could endanger many believers. Missionary endurance means braving hardship and danger to reach precious souls in out-of-the-way places, leaving families and making many other sacrifices for the cause loved more than anything else, making God's cause first and going forward cheerfully without demanding higher pay. Such example leads others to follow and to know the Lord more perfectly, for God guards such workers, regards their determination, honors them as good soldiers, sees every sacrifice, sees the end from the beginning, and cares for, blesses and gives success and victory to everyone who remains faithful, in the same spirit of self-sacrifice shown when God gave His only begotten Son to save fallen man. Jesus calls for volunteers to be self-denying, self-sacrificing soldiers of His cross who endure hardship in carrying forward the work He came in human flesh to accomplish and in fighting the last great battle in His behalf as Redeemer. Enduring means laboring together with God in a work of faith, yoking up with Him, following in His footprints, discerning the signs of the times, and giving self to the perilous undertaking of seeking precious souls even in the pit of degradation, where even the ignorant become fit vessels if meek, lowly and whole-hearted, without losing purity among the impure.
Men and women of earnest faith show the missionary spirit by accepting hardship in unselfish, self-denying labor, going outside comfort to bear reproach for Jesus and working together with God to seek and save the lost, awakened to do what they can because He left heaven and gave His life for the unjust, with His coming with power and great glory as urgency and hearing Thou good and faithful servant as reward. Christ's workers as soldiers who endure hardship serve boldly by willingly sacrificing comforts, work and even company of loved ones for Christ and the gospel, without letting grief over what they left make them ineffective or treating ordinary inconvenience as martyrdom. They must be ready for spiritual conflict as courageous soldiers against error, steadfastly seeking God's glory, not fainthearted but prepared for battle and relying on God to make the weak strong and valiant. Young and mature believers should accept God-given responsibility, eagerly take up the work and serve faithfully as soldiers of Christ, overcoming obstacles and gaining victories as the Spirit works with them, breaking fallow ground in new fields, sacrificing ease and higher pay, and laboring into old age through closed ways and lack of means. God guards, honors and gives success to such self-sacrifice.
Scripture and history show what this endurance requires, for Mark failed the test when danger, persecution and privation discouraged him and he returned to Jerusalem, still having to learn to face adversity bravely. Paul considered patience, bravery, devotion, faith and willingness to sacrifice necessary for the work, while Barnabas helped Mark grow into a useful worker. A good soldier must endure the dangers and privations of missionary work with courage rather than fail as Mark first did, and ministers must follow the arduous labors of Jesus, Luther and other reformers with courage, zeal and greater effort. Jeremiah though young spoke without fear against fierce opposition, Waldensian children were trained to bear trials and possible martyrdom, and Whitefield and the Wesleys were prepared through painful conviction of their lost condition and through scorn, derision, ridicule and persecution at the university and as they entered ministry. Luther and the reformers labored arduously and Caleb stood firmly for right.
In daily life the soldier proves enlistment by a changed life, remaining committed to the One who chose him rather than being drawn away by worldly concerns, so that dishonest or grasping pursuit of money is incompatible with faithful service. One who claims the soldier's place but joins the enemy's cause is not neutral, for divided service makes him an ally of forces opposed to Christ and a betrayer of sacred trust, helping the enemy draw Christ's soldiers away. Students returning home as soldiers of Christ are expected to have moral courage to preserve religious character and influence, standing for Christ at duty. The follower serves as His soldier and endures the struggle against temptation, including bearing taunts from corrupt companions, with victory by looking to and trusting in Jesus who heals the serpent's stings. Youth are urged to serve Jesus Christ while Satan seeks to enlist them in his ranks through pleasures and customs that draw affections away, and Christ's followers must recognize and resist the enemy rather than trust him, becoming increasingly fit for His work, with failure to gain that fitness their own responsibility.
Keeping God's commandments, resisting the enemy and harmful habits, defending truth and right at any loss like Noah and Daniel, drawing others to Jesus, guarding speech, protecting the young, and refusing jesting, worldly amusements, politics, divisive family claims, and neglect of health and duty all mark the faithful soldier's daily proof of enlistment.