Do Your Best and Let God Do the Rest

“Do Your Best and Let God Do the Rest” 2 Timothy 2:3-7 The lesson title “Do Your Best and Let God Do the Rest” is a quote by Dr. Ben Carson. Too many times we go through the motions of living and serving without giving our best. God wants us to do our best in everything we do. This is Ecclesiastes 9:10 in the New Century Version: “Whatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom.” What does a soldier, an athlete and a farmer all have in common? What is Paul trying to teach Timothy, and us, about being strong in faith and remaining faithful during difficult circumstances? How do I give my best to God? The requirement of effort. To be “good” at anything requires hard work, effort and self-discipline. To be a good soldier your will need to fight the good fight (2 Timothy 6:12). To be a winning athlete you will need to run with endurance the race set before you (Hebrews 12:1-2). A successful farmer works hard starting early in the morning because he knows that there will be no harvest to share in if seeds do not get planted (Proverbs 24:30-34). The demand of sacrifice. The sacrifice of life. The sacrifice of comfort. The sacrifice of time. The sacrifice of discipline. The intention to win. Soldiers fight to win the battle, athletes run to win the race and farmers sow in order to reap a harvest. “Run your race to win… I fight to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). The implication of reward. The soldier pleases his/her commanding officer. The athlete wins a crown. The farmer gets the best of his harvest. Jesus said, “I guarantee you this: Anyone who gives up anything for my sake and the Good News—whether a home or a family member or property—will get MORE THAN THAT BACK, multiplied a HUNDREDFOLD, and in the world to come they will be given life forever!” (Mark 10:29-30 NIV).

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