“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” –2 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV

Paul’s use of a soldier as an example is not uncanny, because this exhortation was written at a time he was imprisoned by the Romans (at the onset of the Roman persecution of the early church, which lasted close to 250 years) and observing Roman soldiers everyday in his prison. In v3, Paul says to endure hardship, which can also mean to endure afflictions or suffer trouble. Paul uses this exhortation again in 2 Timothy 4:5. 

Sufferings and afflictions in the Christian faith, can be an area where much can be said about. It can seem contrary to the nature of a loving God at first, but the Bible reveals a greater joy and glory that comes through suffering (2 Timothy 2:12 KJV, Romans 8:18). We in the faith, must know sufferings are permitted by God in our lives (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NKJV). If God would allow His son Jesus Christ to suffer on the cross for a greater glory, we must not think ourselves to be not deserving of suffering. But as with all things God does, there is a purpose that suffering serves in our lives.

Suffering in the faith can reveal these things:

1. God is teaching us his ways (Psalm 119:71)
2. He is teaching us to be a source of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4)
3. He is refining us (Isaiah 48:10)
4. He is teaching us perseverance (Romans 5:3)
5. He keep us from straying (Psalm 119:67)

Further, in v3 Paul writes, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Who is a good soldier of Christ? A good soldier is as such:

1. Unwavering in faith to God

Have you come across the term ‘soldier on’? It is used to describe someone who in the face of adversity has not given up or quit, but has kept persevering. We must soldier on in our faith as well. The moment we come into salvation in Christ, there is a battle for our souls in the spiritual realms (Ephesians 6:12). Enduring in faith is what we are called to (Hebrews 10:35-36), even through all those times in which it will be tested. We must remember that God is always on our side, that Jesus intercedes for us constantly and we have victory over the enemy, if we hold on to Christ. A good soldier is one who never turns his back on Christ till He returns.

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

–Luke 18:8b NKJV

2. Willing to pay the cost of following God

When a soldier enlists for the army, he understands the cost. He has to be away from his family, he can possibly lose his life, it can exert a terrible mental strain on his life. Yet, he chooses to serve his country. What a noble deed! How much more so must we do the same before following Christ. There is a cost of following God, and that is the denial of self. Matthew 16:24 NKJV reads, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”. This verse is talking about separating ourselves from this world, dying to our flesh – which is the carnal nature within us – and to be born again in the Spirit (John 3:1-21). A good soldier is one who is walking in the Spirit.

3. Willing to surrender to God’s will

Not following a direct order from a superior in any army is a seriously punishable offense, for the soldier cannot do anything of his own accord, but according to the instructions of his superiors. We serve not according to our talents, likes and dislikes, ambitions or aspirations. We are serving not to please ourselves but God (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) in all things. Therefore, knowing God’s will for our lives is of utmost importance in serving Him (Ephesians 2:10). But, examining the intentions and motives of our hearts in any service to God is equally, if not more important. Are we doing it for God’s glory? (1 Corinthians 10:31) Or are we seeking the vain glory of men? (Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:4). As any good soldier strives to bring glory to his country, a good soldier of Christ must seek to bring glory to God.

“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” –2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV
V4 goes on to say not to be entangled with the affairs of this life, to have as sole objective pleasing Christ, who has enlisted us in His army. The Roman soldiers of those times were strictly prohibited from engaging in buying or selling in the marketplace. Their needs were completely taken care of by the army. When this verse is compared to what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 6:24 NKJV, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”, it is made very clear. We must choose who we serve, we cannot juggle between both masters, we cannot sit on the fence, there is no middle ground of compromise with God. He is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24, 1 Corinthians 10:21-22) and wants our undivided commitment to His will. If we have excuses in our life today in serving God, it is probably because we find ourselves not choosing God as we should. For when we begin to let nothing of this world steal our commitment to Him, we walk pleasingly before Him. Our God gives us grace and is patient towards us, as He waits for us to wholeheartedly serve Him. Whether it is in the area of money, materialism, careers, our bodies, minds, relationships etc, let us surrender it to Him and ask Him to change our heart’s desire to be towards Him alone. A good soldier will always put God first in everything and never be too busy to obey His command.