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The Lord's Servant Must Be Self-Controlled
Paul admonished Timothy to avoid foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they breed quarrels – 2 Tim.2:23. The next three verses set forth a fourfold mind-set of self-control for every true servant of the Lord, both for preachers and for every member of the body.
1. “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone,” To follow Jesus we must learn to be like Him, gentle and humble in heart. Zechariah prophesied, “Behold, your king is coming to you;… Humble, and mounted on a donkey –” (9:9). Our goal must always be to bring one from darkness to light and to save a soul from death. To quarrel or debate with one is not the way to win him to the Lord. I heard a preacher say one time to a total stranger, after introducing himself, “I’ll debate you on anything we differ on.” I hardly think that first time meeting with a total stranger would have any real drawing power.
2. “Able to teach,” The servant of the Lord must have at least a working knowledge of the word if he would teach another. Love alone without real knowledge is not enough. Paul wrote to the Philippians, who had love without know ledge. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent” (1:9) [Gk. to prove things differing]. It is only through knowledge and discerning power that we can know the difference between man’s teaching and what God teaches. That is why we have to study (2 Tim. 2:15). One has to know the truth before he can know and discern error – John 8:31-32. At Corinth, Paul preached ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified’ (1 Cor. 2:2). This is God’s drawing power to one who is ready to hear and learn of the gospel that he might be saved (John 6:44-45).
3. “Patient when wronged,” Christ is the perfect example of patience. He gave His back to those who struck Him, and His cheeks to those who plucked out His beard. He did not cover His face from humiliation and spitting, for He knew the Lord God His Father would help Him. Therefore He did not feel disgraced and set his face like flint, knowing He would not be ashamed (Isa. 50:6-7).
4.“With gentleness,” The Lord is the very epitome of gentleness. In His invitation to all who are weary and heavy- laden, Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in heart (Mt. 11:28-29). Let us follow in His footsteps, walking in a manner worthy of our calling, with humility and gentleness and patience with tolerance for others that it may be witnessed by all (Eph. 4:1-2). Even when we are asked to give an account (a studied answer) of the hope that is in us, we do so with gentleness and reverence (1 Pet. 3:15).
When we learn to do all things without quarreling, are kind to everyone, having a working knowledge of God’s word, and setting our face like flint to be patient when wronged, then we gently can begin to correct those who are in opposition, if perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to a know- ledge of the truth, that they may come to their senses, [Gk. ananepho ‘return to soberness,’ only here in the NT], and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (vv. 25-26). Therefore, in an all-out effort to bring lost souls to their senses, who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will, the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but apt to teach, patient when wronged, gently helping one return to sober-mindedness that they may be saved.
