The Equipper and the Worker
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life… The hardworking farmer ought to be first to receive his share of the crops." 2 Tim. 2
Paul invites Timothy deeply into the work of the kingdom. He demonstrates how the work should be done. He challenges Timothy to be diligent in the work. He reminds Timothy that the calling and gifting he has should shape how we advances the kingdom. But there is one thing Paul does not do.
Once he has released the work to Timothy, you don't find Paul back in that field. He encourages, and he supports, and he even ensures some teammates join Timothy. But he knows that he is the equipper in the relationship. He expects Timothy to do the same. He challenges him to find faithful men and equip them to reach others.
We get into trouble when the equippers (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, Teachers) go back to the field too often. They need to be equipping the workers, the rest of the body of Christ. If workers on a farm showed up and found the manager in the field, they would be confused. "Just sit back, I will do the work and you can enjoy the fruit of my work. Maybe just get me some water from time to time, and I might need a new pair of shoes and clothes periodically. But I will do the work…"
How foolish that man would be! "It's my farm! I should be doing the work!" Sounds noble and sacrificial, but it is nonsensical.
It sounds the same when a pastor says, "It's my church! I should be feeding the people, and reaching the lost through my efforts!"
Look around you to the workers who have been convinced by your vision. They sit in the pews waiting for you to till and reap in the harvest. Content to share in a meager portion because you have sold them an unhealthy vision.
You read this verse, and ask yourself what it says...
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-14
Paul invites Timothy deeply into the work of the kingdom. He demonstrates how the work should be done. He challenges Timothy to be diligent in the work. He reminds Timothy that the calling and gifting he has should shape how we advances the kingdom. But there is one thing Paul does not do.
Once he has released the work to Timothy, you don't find Paul back in that field. He encourages, and he supports, and he even ensures some teammates join Timothy. But he knows that he is the equipper in the relationship. He expects Timothy to do the same. He challenges him to find faithful men and equip them to reach others.
We get into trouble when the equippers (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, Teachers) go back to the field too often. They need to be equipping the workers, the rest of the body of Christ. If workers on a farm showed up and found the manager in the field, they would be confused. "Just sit back, I will do the work and you can enjoy the fruit of my work. Maybe just get me some water from time to time, and I might need a new pair of shoes and clothes periodically. But I will do the work…"
How foolish that man would be! "It's my farm! I should be doing the work!" Sounds noble and sacrificial, but it is nonsensical.
It sounds the same when a pastor says, "It's my church! I should be feeding the people, and reaching the lost through my efforts!"
Look around you to the workers who have been convinced by your vision. They sit in the pews waiting for you to till and reap in the harvest. Content to share in a meager portion because you have sold them an unhealthy vision.
You read this verse, and ask yourself what it says...
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-14
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