PAUL'S KEY TO SUCCESS 2 Timothy 4:4-8 and 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 -- A MESSAGE FOR GRADUATES AND OTHER PILGRIMS -- 2Timothy 4:5 (NKJV) … be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2Corothians 4:8 (NKJV) [We] [are] hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; [we] [are] perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
__________ When Paul wrote Second Timothy, he was facing death from a Roman prison. Does he bemoan his state? Does he complain about unfairness or write of regrets? NO! To the contrary he declares, "I am ready." Reflecting on his past, Paul cited three important accomplishments.
PAUL'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
He had fought a good fight. He had rescued the gospel of grace from Jewish legalism and Gentile licentiousness.
He had finished the course - What is done looks like the command.
He had authored some 13 epistles, in which he clearly defined Christian doctrine and practice. In four missionary journeys he established churches in what is today Syria, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Yugosolvia, and Italy.
He had faithfully kept the faith.
PAUL'S ADVANTAGES
There are those who would suggest that Paul's impressive life was the result of definite advantages.
His Superior Knowledge - "Paul knew more than I know."
His Superior Anointing - "Paul had a superior anointing or enablement."
PAUL'S ADVERSITIES
These achievements are greatly magnified when we consider the difficult environment in which he accomplished them.
2Corinthians 4:8 (LB) We are pressed on every side by troubles, yet not crushed and broken. We don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 10 These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within [who keeps us safe].
2Corinthians 11:24 (NKJV) From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 [in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils of [my] [own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
2Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
2Corinthians 1:8 (NKJV) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver [us]
HOW DID PAUL ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE?
PAUL'S ATTITUDE
There are several answers to that question, but I want to look at just one of them. Three times in Second Corinthians 4, Paul declared an attitude that is essential to success.
4:1 - "We never give up." 4:8 - "We don't give up and quit" 4:16 - "We never give up." Paul Never Gave Up!
THE STUFF! "A little brown cork fell in the path of a whale, Who lashed it down with his angry tail. But in spite of its blows it quickly arose, And floated serenely before his nose. Said the cork to the whale: You may flap and sputter and frown, But you never never can keep me down; For I'm made of the stuff That is buoyant enough To float instead of to drown." What is "the stuff" that makes us buoyant enough to float instead of to drown? The answer to this question is found within Second Corinthians 4.
PAUL'S ADMONITION
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not give up and quit.
DON'T QUIT
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you mut--but don't you quit. Life is strange with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up, though the pace seems slow You might succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and falters man, Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor's cup And he learned too late, when night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint to the clouds of doubt And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit. It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit! The man who once most wisely said, Be sure you're right, then go ahead, Might as well have added this, to wit: Be sure you're wrong before you quit. TWO FROGS Two frogs fell into a can of cream, Or so I've heard it told; The sides of the can were shiny and steep, The cream was deep and cold. O, what's the use? Croaked No. 1. 'Tis fate; no help's around. Goodbye, my friends! Goodbye, sad world! And weeping still, he drowned. But Number 2, of sterner stuff, Dog-paddled in surprise, The While he wiped his creamy face And dried his creamy eyes. I'll swim awhile, at least," he said-- Or so I've heard he said; It really wouldn't help the world If one more frog were dead. An hour or two he kicked and swam, Not once he stopped to mutter, But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked, Then hopped out, via butter! --T. C. Hamlet (C) 1999
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