⁵But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

As Paul approaches the end of his letter, he finishes his ministry charges to Timothy with four quick, succinct, summary imperatives. Without going into detail, he asserts, firstly, “Be sober in all things.” In similar phrasing, the apostle charges every Christian to “not think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). For Timothy, he must keep his thinking clear, that he is Timothy; he is not Paul. Too often young preachers mimic older, popular preachers. While there was much to learn from Paul’s ministry, it was not to become Timothy’s as a carbon copy. One must not get carried away into unhealthy ministry habits or styles. Clear mindedness is essential to effective ministry. This is true not just for preachers and teachers of the Word but for all Christians engaged in any ministry.

Like Timothy, we must all “endure hardship.” Serving God is not easy. Often it is likened to stepping into the line of fire. One must not involve oneself in service unless one is wholly committed to following and serving the Lord. We do well to listen to one elderly servant of the Lord who advised a young preacher just beginning his ministry, “Remember, you are not going out to serve people. You are serving the Lord.” That perspective will help us endure the difficulties that come with ministry.

Along with Timothy, we must “do the work of an evangelist.” Now you do not need to exhort a gifted evangelist to do that work; it comes spontaneously by the Spirit, and you cannot keep him back from it. So this instruction applies to all who do not have that gift; we must do the work of an evangelist anyway. This is hard work, and it does not come easily. We must constantly allow the Word of God to challenge us in this area. We cannot become complacent thinking that since we are not so gifted, then we have no responsibility. No, we must do this work if we desire to fulfill the ministry God has given us as true servants of Christ.

Finally, we must fulfill our ministry. This comes by way of command from the apostle to Timothy, and by inspired extension to all of us. Each of us has been gifted and called to serve the Lord. There are not two kinds of Christians, those called to simple salvation, and those called to higher service or deeper life. We are all to carry on with the good works which the Lord has called us to do.

Lord, I am Your servant, and I commit to thinking clearly, persevering, reaching out to others, and completing the work You have called me to do.