Introduction

Paul, in his closing portion of this second epistle to Timothy writes to him and gives him one more key to remaining faithful until the end. For one to be faithful until the end, they need to have the proper attitude. If one were to have went into my office and look directly behind my desk and looked at my book shelf, they would seen a hanging metal sign. That sign read, “Attitude is everything. Choose a good one.” That is so true for life. Attitude really is everything in many situations through life, especially in faithfulness to the ministry. If one is going to remain faithful until the end, they must have the proper attitude. Paul reveals three characteristics of a proper attitude in remaining faithful until the end: 1) Avoid focusing on disappointments, 2) Rejoice in seeing brothers reconciled, and 3) There’s no room for vindictiveness.

Focus Passage

2 Timothy 4:9–22 NASB 2020

9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12 But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Attitude is Everything

Paul’s Attitude Helped Him Remain Faithful Until the End

Avoid Focusing on Disappointments

Paul was acquainted with disappointment. Just within this portion of text we are given points of disappointment within the life and ministry of Paul.

Paul was acquainted with the disappointment of abandonment

Paul writes, for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica (v.10). While others had left Paul for the sake of ministry, Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia (v.10), it was different for Demas. Demas had deserted him. This word is better rendered, “left behind.” While Paul was facing persecution for the sake of the ministry, he was deserted by Demas. Understand the true picture that is before us though. This was not just another person in Paul’s life. This was a fellow servant, brother in Christ. This was a man who had tasted the good things of the Lord.

Demas was a co-laborer with Paul, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers (Philemon 24). It would seem that this process took over time. Only twice more is Demas mentioned within the Scriptures. He just mentioned by name alone, Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also (Colossians 4:14). And then the third and final time was mentioned within our text, Demas…has deserted me.

It is hard to see brothers in Christ falter, but it hurts the most you see brothers and sisters abandon you and ministry to follow the lures of the world. We do not know whether it was the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16), but we do know Satan got a hook in him and wouldn’t let go. Is he doing the same to you?

Paul was not acquainted with the disappointment of abandonment, but he was also acquainted with persecution.

Paul was acquainted with the disappointment of persecution

Before he was redeemed on the Road to Damascus, he was persecuting the church (Acts 8:1). Now, he was facing the selfsame persecution himself, Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm (v.14). This was of no concern for Paul and should not be for the contemporary believer. Paul wrote in other text that he wished to know what it was like to have fellowship with the suffering of the cross of Christ, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Philippians 3:10).

Paul’s ability to refocus from the persecution and towards the prize was encouraged through three truths. Paul was supported and strengthen by the Lord, But the Lord stood with me and strengthened…and I rescued out of the lion’s mouth (v.17). Whereas no-one was even willing to be seen with Paul during his first trial, At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me (v.16), God stood right beside him and provided the energy to persevere, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. The Lord would free him from the enemy and would deliver him from the mouth of the lion (v.17). He claimed and held onto the truth found inscribed by the author of Hebrews, a very promise given by God to His people, I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you (Hebrews 13:5).

Second, Paul held on to the promise of our Lord Jesus. He knew that the only way to save his life was to lose it, Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it (Luke 17:33). He practiced what he preached. He was the living sacrifice that he called the believers of Rome to be (Romans 12:2). He knew that if he died, it would no longer be he that lived but Christ that lived within in (Galatians 2:20).

Finally, Paul found strength in the hope of a brighter tomorrow. He knew that what remained in store for him was not comparable to the suffering he faced in this world. What is meant by this is that today’s suffering pales in comparison to gift of salvation and the home that awaits the believer in the life hereafter. He wrote, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).

Paul was acquainted with disappointment. He was acquainted with persecution, and he acquainted with opposition.

Paul was acquainted with the disappointment of opposition

Specifically within our text, Alexander the coppersmith not only did Paul much evil, for he vigorously opposed our teaching (v.15). Paul was familiar with opposition to the Gospel and so should we be familiar with those that oppose the Gospel. One of the major purposes of Paul writing to Timothy, especially his first epistle, was dealing with false teachings and opposition to the Gospel. He understood the timidity of Timothy and at the beginning of this, his second epistle, wrote him to remind him to face opposition with boldness and assurance in the Lord. He writes, For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (1:7).

It is obvious that people will oppose the Gospel. For some the Gospel is foolishness and for others it is a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 1:23). We must be aware and alert of those who are going to oppose the Gospel message. As Paul told Paul told Timothy about Alexander, Be on guard against him yourself too. Why would they oppose the Gospel. For those that are perishing, it is foolishness, but for those of us that are saved it is the power of God unto salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18; Romans 1:16). Despite the persecution that Paul faced and despite the opposition that Paul faced or that we will face, God will always provide a way for the gospel to be spread, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished (v.17).

Paul was acquainted with disappointment. However, he did not focus on disappointment. Paul was familiar with brothers in Christ abandoning the faith, but he also rejoiced in seeing brothers reconciled who had fallen.

Rejoice in Seeing Brothers Reconciled

Paul was acquainted with faithful fellow servants in the Lord

Paul knew those that were faithful in service to the Lord. He knew that Timothy was serving faithful at Ephesus. He knew that Titus was faithfully serving the Lord by pastoring the church of the Cretians at Dalmatia. He had faith in the service of Tychicus, whom Paul was sending to Ephesus, which allowed Timothy to come to him and bring his cloak for the winter and his parchments and his books (assumed by most scholars that this OT writings, but truly we do not know) (vv.11-12). He also had Luke, the physician with him. The same Luke who wrote the two longest books of the NT (The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles) and who most believed penned 2 Timothy for Paul while he was in prison (v.11).

Paul was acquainted with fallen servants in the Lord

It was not just Demas who had fallen. He probably fell the furthest, but there were many who had abandoned Paul in his time of need. He states, only Luke is with me (v.11). He followed up that with, At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me (v.16). If you remember, he wrote earlier, all who are in Asia (People he personally ministered too) turned away from me (2 Timothy 1:15).

He knew men who were faithful. He knew men that had fallen, but he also knew men that been reconciled and brought back to the ministry.

Paul was acquainted with reconciled brothers in the Lord

Do not overlook the importance of what Paul writes in (v.11), Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. He was Paul’s first partner in the ministry (Acts 13:1-3). Eventually this partnership would end in Mark abandoning Paul in the ministry (Acts 13:5) and this split would cause major disruption in the ministry and a split between brothers in Christ; a split between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41).

What we see within our text is a spiritual truth is not to be missed. People can fail. People can fall. People are people. Just because a brother or sisters falls. Just because a brother or sister walks away. Just because a brother or sister falters for a season, it doesn’t mean that God cannot use that brother or sister. Let it be known, if you have fallen to sin, if you have walked away, if you faltered, if you will repent, God can reconcile you and use you still. This is truth found throughout the Word of God. We see it with Moses. We see it with David. We see it with Jonah. We see it with Peter. We see it with Mark. God can still use you. Let us be reminded of this church. Be reminded of this dear brother or sister who has faltered. God is not done with you.

Finally, Paul showed through his calling for Mark and through the remainder of this epistle that he did not wish for vindictiveness. He reveals there is no room for vindictiveness in economy of God and the household of faith.

No Room for Vindictiveness

Paul showed there was no room for vindictiveness against those who persecute the believer and oppose the Gospel

Paul withstood Alexander and did not try to repay his persecution or opposition himself. He didn’t pray for God to be vengeful. He knew God would handle it and that was enough for him. He writes, the Lord will repay him according to his deeds (v.14).

Paul showed there was no room for vindictiveness against those who abandon the believer in time of need

Paul acknowledged people abandoned him. He testified to such. However, he was not about bringing them down or holding it against them. He was willing to show something else. He showed grace and forgiveness. He writes, may it not be counted against them (v.16).

His words bring fresh to the memory of every believer the words of our Savior on the cross as he looked down on those crucifying him and the crowds taunting him, But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34). Not to forget the example of Stephen, when Paul was holding the coats of those stoning him, Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60). No doubt Paul remembered Stephen’s call for grace as he called for grace for his brothers and sisters who had abandoned him in his time of need.

Conclusion

I close with one more truth found within this text. Time is running out. Paul writes to Timothy and says, Make every effort to come to me soon…Make every effort to come before winter (vv.9, 21a). Paul knew time was running out. It would take three to four months for Timothy to get from Ephesus to Rome. He would have to cross the Mediterranean Sea which would be impassible during the winter months. If he didn’t leave then, he would not make it. Timothy didn’t have to worry about someone taking over at Ephesus. Paul was already sending Tychicus for that. Timothy just needed to go. His window was short and needed to come quickly.

We must understand that our window is short. Time is running out. Time is running out for the lost person to accept Christ and find eternal life in Christ. Time is running out for the believer to be faithful and share the Gospel. As Jesus told his disciples…

Matthew 9:35–38 NASB 2020

35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Let us redeem the time that we have lost and make the most of the time we have.

Ephesians 5:16 NASB 2020

16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Let us remain Faithful Until the End!

One must also remember this truth, time may be running out for you to accept Christ. Let today be the day that you surrender to Christ as Lord and Savior.