2 Timothy 2:5-7 5Also if anyone competes in a contest, he does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to share in the fruits. 7Think about what I say; for the Lord will give to you understanding in everything.
The second image in verse 5 is of an athlete striving for the prize of winner. The Ephesians would have been familiar with this image because of the various competitions found in many Roman cities. Paul uses a similar image in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He does not list a specific contest here. The stress is put more on how the athlete competes to receive the goal of the prize. The crown commonly given to a winner was a laurel wreath placed on the head. This brought great honor and recognition to the athlete.
But, the athlete had to “play by the rules.” Strength and endurance are important for winning the race but so is following the rules of the competition. The athlete cannot cheat and take short cuts. In ministry, one cannot take short cuts and hope to receive Christ’s affirmation, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We may be tempted to look for the way of least resistance when we face suffering. Through this illustration, Paul urges Timothy to endure the race, do not give up, and do not take short cuts if he wants to win the prize of eternal life.
The third image is of a hardworking farmer. Farming requires hard work if the goal of a good crop is to be realized. Taking short cuts or neglecting important steps along the way will not produce a good harvest. The soil must be tilled, the seeds planted well, the plants watered, and the weeds removed. If any of these steps is neglected, the final product will not be what it could be.
Paul’s point with this illustration is that the person who works hard in the growth process should be the first to receive the award of the outcome. He does not say what the fruits are, so the exact application of this principle is difficult to determine. These fruits cannot be health, wealth, and prosperity, like some people preach today. For Timothy, his fruit could involve suffering and potential shame. The greatest fruit he could receive and the goal of his ministry was eternal life (1 Timothy 4:16). Similarly, all believers are in the race of life and are farmers in the field. There can be no short cuts, compromise, or loss of purpose and vision so that we can win the heavenly prize in Christ Jesus.
Verse 7 shows the synergism involved in growing as a Christian. Paul first mentions the human part of the equation by inviting Timothy to think about these images and how they apply to his life. As readers of the Bible, we must do our part by careful study and diligent searching to understand the words and concepts found in Scripture. Second, Timothy was not alone in this because the Lord would help him to understand everything Paul said. God grants us deeper insights into his truths through the Holy Spirit. We need more than cognitive understanding. It is more important to take the knowledge we have to heart and allow the Holy Spirit to change us to become like the Lord Jesus.
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