I have no time.
That was my excuse for why I wasn’t spending more time pursuing the things God values. My priorities included building a company, investing in my marriage and just keeping my head above the water with all of life’s responsibilities. The thought of taking time to read and study the Bible would never have landed in my daily planner. The idea of meeting a couple guys over breakfast to talk about God would have been preposterous, at least in my head. Giving back was a duty, not a joy. Yet, little did I see that God was slowly pruning as He pursued me to take greater steps of obedience. Over the past 10+ years, so much has changed as I begin to understand what it means to abide in Christ.
One passage that God has used in my life to shape my calling as a man is 2 Timothy 2:2: “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Wow, what a verse! Such a simplistic leadership plan! God is looking for men who will listen, be trustworthy, and be faithful.
God is clear and direct with His plan to grow His kingdom. But I’ll be honest, my first thought was – that’s a preacher’s job! Nope. God is looking for soldiers, trustworthy men to equip with His Word. Men of character who will lead the charge. Men with enough humility to listen and glean the truth from someone, then repeat the process with others.
The two characters involved in the dialogue of this verse are interesting. Paul, the author is a stud. He’s confident. He’s authoritative with the experience, accolades, education, and pedigree to make a statement that begins, “what you have heard from me”. What truly makes Paul great though, is he’s a humble and broken man that sees himself as the chief of all sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 7:15-20, 1 Corinthians 15:9)
The recipient of letter is Timothy, Paul’s uneducated and inexperienced mentee, a young man who grew up in a pagan culture with an absent or distant father but a strong believing mother. (Acts 16:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:5) It was in the confines of this mentoring relationship that Paul set forth his pattern: Listen to my instruction then begin a domino effect of discipleship.
Men, do you realize that we’ve been entrusted with God’s Word? The Lord is calling for us to be faithful. Others (whether they realize it or not) are relying on us to relay the truth. Trustworthy, faithful, and reliable; are these attributes within my character?
If I’m lacking in one or all, what’s the outcome? Well, the long-term outcome is not good. While God is patient and full of grace, there are plenty of verses that clearly spell out what happens to fruitless trees. Compost! Those trees will eventually wither, are cut off, and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 says “the ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
You may not feel qualified to teach the Bible and share about all that Jesus has done. Be encouraged, I’m with you. I’ve never had formal training. I’ve never read the Bible cover to cover in one year. But, as we read and unpack this verse, Paul reminds us that God is not looking for Bible scholars and lofty thinkers; but ordinary, rugged, genuine men who are trustworthy reliable, and teachable.
In closing, notice the progression. The end of the verse says “men WILL also be able to teach others”. Hear God’s Word, rely daily on the truth of Scripture, and entrust it to someone else. As you work that simple process, God enables you to be an effective messenger. The Holy Spirit is the Qualifier! No need to spruce up the message or distort the Word of God.
This isn’t a command for the spiritual elite, but for every man. All men, not some but ALL. We’re all called to have a role. Do we have to be a pastor with a congregation? No! Do we have to have a lot of money? Nope. Smart? Nope. Athletic? Nope. College degree? No way. Good looking? Thank God for me, nope! The only qualifier is to know Jesus personally. With the strength that God brings, we then become more trustworthy, reliable, willing, and able to teach others what we have heard.
This is what RTM is all about reliable, trustworthy, teachable men of God. We start with a breakfast invitation, fellowshipping, and an eagerness to learn and share! Find time this week to read, study and share 2 Timothy 2:2. Commit to putting this verse into practice in 2023.
Stephen L. Thomas, RTM