Are they spiritually valuable?
May 15, 2012 (Tuesday)
When Paul came to the end of his life, he assessed his situation. Before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was well on the way toward wealth, prestige and enjoyment of the comforts that accompany those qualities, because he was a Pharisee, having been trained since childhood for such. After his conversion and call to take the gospel to Gentiles, he became dependent upon meagre profits from his part-time tentmaking occupation and upon the generosity of Christians in churches that assisted him. He made it clear in his writings that God supplied all his needs. Here at the close of his life (2 Timothy 4:6), he lists his assets, but money and possessions are not on his list. What did he have?
He had a good record. He wrote, “I have finished the race.” In other words, he had lived his life as the Lord directed him to live it. He followed God’s plan. He added, “I have fought the good fight,” referring to the spiritual warfare between good and evil (Ephesians 6). Although hounded and persecuted by enemies, he fought back only with prayer and the word of God. He “kept the faith.” He was true to the gospel, and always exalted Jesus as the one and only Savior for all humankind.
He had good friends. In the fourth chapter of 2 Timothy he mentions some of them. Everywhere Paul went, he was accompanied by people who wanted to help him voluntarily. Here in this Roman prison, awaiting the executioner, he is thankful for those friends.
He had a beautiful home, although he had not yet moved into it. His home was in Heaven. His reward was in Heaven. He would see his Savior face to face in Heaven. He looked forward to seeing Jesus and hearing him say, “Well done.”
All of Paul’s assets were spiritual: a good record, some good friends, and a home in Heaven. Let’s listen to him as he tells us about the things that mattered to him: “I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the 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” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV).