The 3 Disciplines of Endurance

The 3 Disciplines of Endurance

By Pastor Russell Henderson

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.  And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

[2Timothy 2:3-7 NLT]

The books of 1 & 2 Timothy are full of so many nuggets of wisdom, and this passage is just one of those many golden nuggets.  In 2 Timothy, Paul has been instructing Timothy about enduring hardship and persecution.  In the verses above Paul uses three types of people to teach him about endurance:  the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer.  Each vocation requires strict discipline, and each one requires a specific type of discipline and skill set.  Let’s examine these three a little closer.

The soldier.  Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.  The discipline of the soldier requires him to lay aside the cares and worries of the world and serve a greater purpose.  The soldier is required to serve his commanding officer. And on a much larger scale he is required to serve his country.  When a soldier becomes entangled in the things of the world (civilian affairs) he is distracted and cannot fulfill his sworn duty.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to learn how to take the attitude of the soldier.  We are in a war against the powers of darkness.  The enemy is out to destroy you, and you must learn to keep your eyes completely fixed on your commanding officer, Jesus Christ.  You have to learn to put the things of the world behind you--the worries, the hardships, the persecutions—and live as a servant of Jesus Christ.

The athlete.  Athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. The discipline of the athlete is completely different from that of the soldier.  Athletes have to undergo strict training at all times to be the best that they can be.  They have to be disciplined in their diet to keep themselves at a certain weight.  They have to exercise regularly to keep themselves strong for the task ahead.  Failure to stay strong in any of these areas will greatly hinder their chances of winning the prize.  How do we stay strong in our spiritual race of life?  We must be disciplined and dedicated to a life of prayer, devotion, and fellowship with the saints.

Not only do athletes have to be disciplined in their body, but they also have to be disciplined to play by the rules.  Rules are put in place so that everyone will compete on an equal level.  It is very easy to try to bend or even break the rules to gain an advantage, but disobedience to the rules will always be discovered and brought into the light.  In our spiritual walk, we can “break the rules” by deviating from God’s word and/or His plan for our lives and by trying to do things in our own power.  If you want to stand against the attack of the enemy, you must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and follow God’s plan at all times.  There is no alternative.

The farmer.  Hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.  The final type of discipline that we must learn is the discipline of the farmer.  The farmer’s ultimate goal is to produce the largest crop possible.  If he fails at his job many people will starve to death.  The farmer has to be smart.  He has plow the field at the right time.  He must plant the crop at the right time.  He must be patient for long periods of time, and he must harvest the crop at the right time.  A farmer’s life revolves around time.  Failure in any of these areas could spell disaster for himself, his family, and possibly even an entire community.

As spiritual farmers, we must be constantly listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We must know His voice above all the other voices that are speaking to us on a daily basis.  The Holy Spirit will tell us the right to make a move, and then He will tell us exactly how to do it.  Just the like the farmer, we also must learn patience.  Once a crop has been planted, it takes time for it to come to fruition.  If we try to jump ahead of God’s timing it could mean the loss of one or many souls (spiritual crops).

We were never promised an easy life as a Christian, but God has given us some practical instructions to help us overcome the obstacles and hardships that the enemy will try to send our way.  Keep your eyes on God, keep yourself strong in His Spirit, and be patient that He is working everything for the good.