“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).
Much like those who seek to excel in a competitive athletic event, Paul the Apostle urged Timothy to adopt a similar attitude regarding his life and work. This was not a new analogy for Paul, for a look at some of his other New Testament letters reveals his use of similar athletic imagery. Those illustrations included track and field events (1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 2:16), boxing (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, 1 Timothy 6:12), and wrestling (Ephesians 6:12).
While Paul often used those analogies to emphasize the importance of spiritual discipline, this passage draws our attention to the importance of conducting ourselves “according to the rules.” So what are “the rules” that should govern our life and work? Well, there are several ways to address that question from the Scriptures. For the purpose of this study, we will stay within the parameters that God has given us through Paul the Apostle in the Pastoral Epistles of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus…
“So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3 NLT).
“…follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model” (2 Timothy 1:13 CEV).
“Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:7-9 NIV).
These characteristics are not only important for pastors, leaders, or teachers; they are applicable to anyone who seeks to be a good representative of Christ at school, at home, in the workplace, or anywhere else. Therefore as Paul counseled Timothy earlier in 1 Timothy 4:12, we should “…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”