During the severe persecution of Nero, the aged Apostle Paul found himself in prison with little hope of being released (see 2 Timothy 4:6-8). As a result, Paul wrote to his spiritual son in the faith Timothy, to encourage him to continue serving the Lord faithfully. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul tells Timothy to look to three illustrations of Christlike service to avoid discouragement. One of those illustrations is of the farmer.
In 2 Timothy 2:6, Paul tells Timothy to look to the farmer who was hard-working for encouragement and motivation. The word hard-working (kopiaō) means to diligently labor even to the point of exhaustion. Although the work would be hard, Timothy’s faithful service to the Lord would not go unrewarded.
“Hence the minister who labors long and hard is given the assurance that God is not unmindful, and that appropriate reward will be given, both in this life and the next.”[1]
As we look at the illustration of the farmer, we see that service to the Lord will require hard work and patience. However, we should not become discouraged knowing that the Lord knows our toil and will reward us in His timing.
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (NASB 95)
Blessings,
Pastor Steven
[1] Homer Kent. The Pastoral Epistles Commentary, pg. 262.