The Lot of the Pastor Is Similar To the Lot of the Soldier, Athlete, and Farmer

218- Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. The last analogy that Paul uses is that of a hard-working farmer. Trials, tribulations, testings, are all part of the life of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Paul reminds Timothy that as a minister of the Gospel, he is in the same boat as these three. And as the soldier, athlete, and farmer, endure, so should Timothy and all others who would follow in his footsteps. None of these occupations are a cakewalk. They take hard work and long hours of discipline. The same can be said for those who would put on the robe of pastor. The pastor, like a soldier, must often set aside common activities of the world as he engages in ministering the word. Like an athlete, he must avoid the temptation to stretch the rules, carefully learning to rightly divide the word of truth, and as a farmer, he must be up early diving into the seed bag of the Word of God, as he prepares to sow the seeds of life into souls that God has sent his way. Are you ready to do this pastor? Are you ready to endure the hardships of a soldier? The discipline of the athlete? The hard labor of the farmer? Count the cost, BEFORE you respond to the call! And if you say “yes!” then be like that soldier, who's only aim is to please his commanding officer! Be like that athlete, disciplining yourself to abide by the rules of biblical interpretation, and like a farmer, be prepared to roll up your sleeves and labor long and hard in your chosen field! It's not all gloom and doom! As Paul wrote in 1Ti 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. There are satisfying rewards in this line of work. The soldier's sense of pride when the CO pins a medal on him, the victor's crown of an athlete who wins by training hard and following the rules, and the farmer who is able to enjoy the fruits of his labor after the harvest! Has God called you into the pastorate? Be like the best soldier, the best athlete, the best farmer you can be knowing the truth of 1Pe 5:4, “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”