2 Timothy 2:3-7

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

(v3-7, NIV)

Jacky brought this passage to my attention the other day. Apparently, they looked at it during Morning Prayer. I had a side thought or idea regarding this passage. This is by no means the main point, but themes surrounding shame, suffering and pleasing others in 2 Timothy caught my attention. I was reminded about John Piper's sermon on Romans 1:16. He was talking about shame and being ashamed. One way to avoid being ashamed is to always put yourself in a good light with people. By doing this, you may become a people pleaser, which is not what you want to be. As soldiers under the command of the living God, who do we seek to please? Do we seek to please men or our commander? When we become people pleasers, we become like a soldier who gets involved in civilian affairs. These affairs are not the affairs our commander has instructed us to deal with, so we are no longer pleasing God in these matters, but these civilians. I'm not saying you can't please anyone or go to help "civilians", but heart and soul of the matter should be pleasing God according to his instruction to us.