2 Timothy 2:3, 4
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.
In a series of pictures Paul tells Timothy first that he must be like a soldier. The particular aspect of soldiering that Paul has in mind is enduring hardship. If you are a soldier you go where you are sent and you put up with what has to be put up with, however inconvenient. In a struggle for victory there is inevitably some sacrifice to be made and soldiers are expected to make such sacrifices. For ministers in stable and comfortable settings it is easy to forget this aspect of ministry and so when hardship has to be endured it is tempting to try and circumvent it. A true minister will not always be able to deal with things in that way if he intends to remain faithful. There will be hardships somewhere along the line. We are not expected to enjoy them but they must be endured for the sake of Christ and his people. In verse 4 Paul expands on this by saying that the soldier cannot get involved in civilian affairs - popping to the shops, a celebratory night out, a day trip to Longleat. His one aim in life is to please his commanding officer. it is not that the minister cannot do some of those very ordinary things that a soldier cannot - washing the car, shopping for clothes, watching a film - but he must do them in a detached way. His one concern is to serve God and he is ready to drop anything to do the Lord's bidding.
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