And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (24-26)
Being patient and gentle with people who oppose you is often difficult, but it is especially difficult when you know you are clearly right. In this text, Paul spoke to the young preacher Timothy about what he would need to know to successfully carry on in the ministry after Paul’s impending death. In his first book to Timothy, he instructs him to faithfully continue his work even though he was a young man many would likely look down on. Now, he tells him how to deal with difficult people who oppose the truth. These words are especially instructive to us in Africa today, beset with the “man of God” mentality where many believe authority comes from position rather than character.
Paul doesn’t advise Timothy to yell louder, assert his authority, or demand the respect of his church members. Instead, he says that the Lord’s servant should not be quarrelsome and should be kind to everyone. He even tells him that he must patiently endure evil people and put up with their ungodly behavior. We are not to accept ungodliness; of course, we should address the issues, but we do it with gentleness, relying on God’s word and faithfully teaching it until people change. We don’t change people; God is the one who grants repentance, but our job is to continue kindly exposing them to the truth until His word and Spirit bring change in their lives. The good news is that some do listen, some come to their senses, and thank God, some escape from the Devil’s snare. Remember, the Devil is the real enemy.
I am in a season where stubborn, ungodly people care more about winning than they do about obeying God. I know for certain that bible truth is clearly on my side. Yet, they still resist His will; they still want to get their way and will do whatever it takes to selfishly cling to unbiblical power. Yet, when I come back to this text, clearly, my response must not be quarrelsome but kind. Also, my response is not to give up or wash my hands of the whole affair but to patiently endure their evil and teach the truth, hoping they will eventually get it. My mandate is to not let my flesh get the best of me but to correct with gentleness and grace. Why? Because these brothers are not the real enemy, the enemy is the Devil, and they have unwittingly fallen into his snare. Perhaps if I am faithful and consistent, God will grant them repentance. Don’t get me wrong, they are accountable for their actions and should repent. But one thing I know is belligerent outbursts from me will never accomplish the purposes of God. Take a lesson from Timothy and choose kindness, patience, and consistency while God does what only He can do to change hearts.
