Mennonite Church USA

This is the last column in my series dedicated to keeping first things first. It seems fitting, then, to feature a passage that sets forth the rewards of the Christian life for those who labor in God’s kingdom. In 2 Timothy 2:1-7, the Apostle Paul compares Timothy’s work to three lines of work—that of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer. Each of these occupations requires discipline, hard work and more than a little patience.

In other correspondence to churches, Paul draws on one or more of these analogies. See for example, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; 9:7-12, 24-27, Philippians 3:13-14 and 1 Timothy 5:18. Perhaps the most important is 2 Timothy 4:7-8, where he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” All of these Scriptures provide words of comfort to those who have spent years tending God’s vineyard. As Paul declares, in a quotation from Deuteronomy, “workers deserve their wages” (1 Timothy 5:18).

Paul speaks not only of hard work but the struggle for self-mastery and willingness to suffer. In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins tells how his wife, Joanne, practiced full-time for three years to prepare for the women’s triathlon. This strenuous event involves 2.4 miles of ocean swimming, 112 miles of cycling and a 26.2-mile marathon footrace. Her discipline and stamina paid off when she won the world championship.

Olympic hopefuls commit to hard training because they nurture the hope of a medal and a few moments on worldwide TV. In Paul’s day, as in ours, Olympic championships brought recognition, fame and feelings of achievement. Yet Paul declared that the Christian race is even more worthy of disciplined endeavor than the Olympics.

Several years ago, I met Martin Marty, a well-known theologian and historian, who embodies strict self-discipline in pursuit of his vocation. Now professor emeritus at the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, he has written 50 books, 5,000 articles and carries honorary doctorates from 75 colleges and universities.

Marty was the commencement speaker at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. So several of us had a leisurely exchange around the breakfast table at president Loren Swartzendruber’s home. In the course of conversation, Swartzendruber asked Marty how he has accomplished so much in life, including all his writing.

“Well, you know,” Marty responded, “I’m Swiss. I work by deadlines.”

And then he proceeded to show us three watches—one in his vest pocket, one on his wrist, and one from his pants pocket.

“My wristwatch has an alarm,” he said. “I get up every morning at 4:44 am.”

“Not 4:45?” Swartzendruber asked with amusement.

“No, 4:44.”

Then Marty proceeded to tell us about his daily routines—which include walking 10,000 steps—and showed us the pedometer he uses to record them. As he talked, I discerned that he was not overly compulsive, but a caring and sensitive man who serves God with determination and discipline. He deserves a rich reward.

I would be remiss, however, if I gave the impression that one gains a reward in God’s kingdom simply by working hard or exercising personal discipline. Mere human initiative does not bring in the kingdom of God. Rather, the cultivation of Christian disciplines opens the door to receive God’s grace and empowerment for ministry. God’s transforming grace in our lives is what truly imparts hope, both to us and the people to whom we minister.