Apostle Paul serves as good example to workers
By The Rev. Alexander Jalso Scripture reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13. Text: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” 2 Timothy 2:3-6.
Even our Labor Day celebration will be different if we pay attention to Apostle Paul as he instructs Timothy and us how one should fulfill his/her duties.
ONE WORD IN GREEK AND SEVERAL WORDS IN ENGLISH. Please read 2 Timothy 1:8 and 2:3.
In the original text, we find a compound Greek word in which these thoughts are incorporated: together plus bad plus to suffer. Since the English language has no equivalent word, which would express the same ideas, the translators used various expressions such as:
– Share in suffering – Revised Standard Version
– Be thou partaker of the afflictions; endure hardness – King James Version
– With me bear hardship; put up with your share of difficulties – Jerusalem Bible.
It is interesting that in the Latin translation the corresponding word is; to work and to work together! How did the slaves work on a galley manning the oars?
For Timothy, Apostle Paul was neither an employer nor an employee but a fellow worker, see Romans 16:21, and in this capacity he can teach us also about the basic principles of work ethic.
THE GOOD EXAMPLES OF THREE OCCUPATIONS MENTIONED BY APOSTLE PAUL.
“. . . like a good soldier . . .” The mighty army of the Roman Empire could have been in Apostle Paul’s mind when he asked Timothy to act as a good soldier.
Every drill sergeant can tell you what the conditions are to win the battle; DISCIPLINE plus OBEDIENCE plus COURAGE equals VICTORY.
It was impossible to overlook the famous Greek athletes who were physically as well as mentally well-prepared to compete. We have no knowledge of Apostle Paul ever being a soldier or an athlete (he was rather a thinker than a fighter, please read 2 Corinthians 10:10) yet he was familiar with the military and athletic expressions. Thus his advice to Timothy was; TRAINING plus ENDURANCE plus OBSERVING THE RULES equals FIRST PRIZE.
As this great missionary was going from one place to another he must have seen the farmers as they tilled the ground, planted the seeds and harvested the crop. Most probably he also heard about the unfavorable weather, the negligent neighbor and the government that took a portion of the harvest for taxes. Therefore, he wrote: “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” Seeing the workers laboring out in the field he came to this conclusion; KNOWLEDGE plus HARD WORK plus GOD’S BLESSING equals RICH HARVEST.
Today, the trend is to become PROFESSIONAL, EXPERT and SPECIALIST because if one has achieved this status, he/she can enjoy a good reputation, a nice income and a leading position.
Every young lady and gentleman is encouraged to study, earn a degree and find a good job but at the same time, let us not forget Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy; be a brave soldier, an honest athlete and a diligent farmer.
I read this bit of wisdom recently: “Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared, but only men of character are trusted.”
We are happy that life is getting better and easier for each generation, however, the one Greek word used by apostle Paul is still valid; share in suffering, endure hardship with us, put up with your share of difficulties; in short: WORK!
The difference between a good worker and a Christian laborer is spelled out by Apostle Paul who not only gave this advice to Timothy but also lived by it: “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.” 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9.
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The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.