2 Timothy 4:1-8

The Crown of Righteousness (Live Your Dash)

My parents were funny. Not all the time of course, but humor seemed to help them get through tough times and of those there were plenty. My mother used to say that she wanted the epitaph on her gravestone to say, “I told you I was sick.”  Clark Gable has these two words inscribed on his: “Back to Silence.” Earnest Hemingway's tombstone reads: “Pardon me for not getting up.”

Many grave stones carry more serious sentiments of broken hearts and hopes of reunion. The similarity of them all though, is they generally note the beginning and ending dates of life with a tiny dash in the middle.

As our own lives near the end, we will likely be focusing on the events contained in that dash. We will recall our childhood and growing up. We may focus on our development of skills and work, our marriage and children. Opportunities we missed and some we seized. We will revisit our joys and disappointments. That dash holds the meaning of our existence.

Would you like the dash on your tombstone to represent something significant: To read the words of one man who had a deep sense of purpose, turn to 2 Timothy Chapter 4 verses 7-8;

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Oh to be that certain of eternal life! Paul wrote these words to Timothy as his life was nearing its conclusion. He also charged Timothy with following his lead. He said; “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”

Paul spoke of a future much like our present, which is why his charge was so important; 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine…….they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Sound like our world? Let’s keep the faith and work on our dash as Paul did!

Read/Listen to 2 Timothy 4: 1-8

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reproofing and Correction

The Sunday Scripture Reading for September remains the same: 

"All scripture is God -breathed, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Consider the phrase

“He doesn't know what he doesn't know.”

I've used that line myself when referring to new employees at my workplace, I was responsible for mentoring. It takes a while for the fog to clear when people are put into new situations. Everyone else has an understanding of the common goal. Those who surround the newbie are in the know about the importance of the details that need to be addressed. While the rookie thinks he is working hard and doing what is expected, the others are picking up the slack.

As the numbers on the desk calendar are peeled away, his co-workers correct, redirect, explain, and allow mistakes in order to provide understanding and clarity. Through this process of correction, reproofing, experience, and guidance, the new guy settles into a place within the ranks because he now “gets it.”

Perhaps there was a business manual available to assist with understanding the common practices involved with the job. Maybe the new employee was referred to the internet to view a web cam or provided video training CD’s to get an overview of his role and responsibilities. Though valuable tools, the importance of the personal relationships accompanying those training opportunities cannot be overstated.

If we are true Christ followers, we are also spiritual mentors. We have a God given training manual at our fingertips we call the Bible; His Holy Word. We can provide this tool to others, but must also model, guide, correct, and reproof in order to bring our brothers and sisters to a place of understanding their responsibilities as Christians. To help them know what they don't know. 

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”