Out of Season
“Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season.”* (2 Timothy 4:2, click here for the full passage) When are we to preach the word? Always! When are we to hold back from preaching the word? Never!
This comes late in Paul’s second letter to his disciple, Timothy, in what Paul may very well have thought would be his last words to Timothy, so he’s serious about this. He urges his young friend never to forget what his (and our) calling is, and never to let distractions cause him to set that priority aside.
When he says “preach the word,” I don’t think that means just telling others about Jesus, although it certainly must include that. I think he means the gamut of what the Scripture proclaims to us. Just a few verses earlier he wrote, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” so he seems to be working from a broad understanding of what “the Word” includes.
Sometimes this comes as service to one in need, sometimes love for another, sometimes prayer, sometimes just doing the right thing, sometimes stewardship of God’s creation and our own gifts. But it also must include the actual proclamation. The goal is not that others think we are good people. The goal is actually twofold (at least). First, we are transformed in the faithful service and, second, others at least get a glimpse of Jesus in us.
The truth is, it always seems “out of season” for the hard disciplines of the faith. Time for prayer? There are always pressing things to do or fret about. Get to worship with God’s people? I don’t even have to get dressed to hope on the livestream, or just sleep in? Stewardship season? There’s inflation, fixed incomes, lots of others asking.
There’s always a reason to see things out of season – to make excuses. But Paul reminds us to be urgent about our faith and discipleship in season AND out of season.
Where are you letting the ‘out of season’ excuses get in the way of your service to God?
This column appeared in the October 16, 2022 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
If you are reading this at a different time, click here for the current eNews.
