You Must Depend on God

II Timothy 4:16-22

A husband or wife who threatens to leave their mate in an effort to get their way often doesn’t understand that to their mate they are saying they are not committed to the marriage. The mate now has to decide, not just whether to do what is wanted, but also to guess whether the relationship will last long enough to recoup his investment. While it might be worth while to invest in a new couch for the long haul, it is hardly worth while if the marriage might end next week. The threat of divorce may stop the mate from doing the very thing it was intended to cause.

People make decisions based on the information they have and past experience and training. People place their faith in the information being accurate and their experiences are correctly interpreted. That some of the information may be incomplete or experiences may be misunderstood is likely. It is difficult to commit to a position or action without sufficient information, or if the information is unconfirmed. Most people have experienced times when the information was faulty, making trust difficult. As a result it is difficult to predict what people will do.

When Paul first received Christ, even the other apostles were afraid to trust him. Their prior experience indicated that he was likely to kill them. Barnabas was the only one willing to take a chance on his being a Christian in Acts 9:27-28. People who did not know the Lord as well as Paul did had the same reaction in every city he preached in. They acted by faith, but their information was flawed, resulting in misplaced faith. They accepted human logic in place of God’s promise.

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (II Timothy 4:16-18)

God doesn’t depend on man for his power. Our belief or unbelief does not affect his power or his promises. II Timothy 2:13 states, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” While everyone else deserted him. God did just what he had promised, causing his message to be heard in city after city, and protecting him even from being killed by a lion in the arena. Only God could have received the credit because others refused to get involved. His experiences encourage Paul to believe that he can trust God in every other situation as well. Paul hopes the others will be emboldened by what they have seen God do for him.

Paul now concludes by sharing the greetings of others to Timothy and asking him to share those greetings with others. That love and concern doesn’t end because of a separation.

“Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” (II Timothy 4:19-22)