Young People's Group

“Only Luke Is With Me”

by Mitchell Tan
March 22, 2018

LEARNING TO BE A TRUE FRIEND AND A FELLOW SERVANT TO THE END

What does it mean to be a true friend and a fellow servant in the Lord? A good test is whether we would stand by each other to the end. Paul had his fair share of friends and fellow servants who stood by him as he served. However, there were those who did not stand by him in the end. They started serving the Lord well but did not end well. And there were those who started well and continued to minister to him in his time of need. Let take a look at their examples.

1. DEMAS STARTED WELL BUT DID NOT END WELL

“For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica – Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmantia.”
2 Timothy 4:10

Demas started well in serving the Lord. He was considered by Paul as a fellow labourer (Philemon 24). He was one of those who served alongside Paul. However, along the way, he started loving the things of this world. His heart was no longer focused on serving the Lord. When Paul was in prison, he deserted him and left for Thessalonica. Demas started well but did not end well in the ministry. He was not faithful as a friend and as a fellow servant of the Lord.

2. THOSE WHO STARTED WELL AND ENDED WELL

A. LUKE – A BELOVED PHYSICIAN

“Only Luke is with me.”
2 Timothy 4:11

The beloved physician Luke was with Paul on some of his missionary journeys (Acts 21:1). He was able to be there with him during his incarceration. He was the only one available to be with Paul when he wrote 2 Timothy.

B. TIMOTHY – A FAITHFUL SPIRITUAL SON

“Be diligent to come to me quickly”
2 Timothy 4:9

Timothy started following Paul as a humble servant in training (Acts 16:3). He continued to be faithful as a fellow servant and as a spiritual son. Paul wrote of his proven character and how as a son with his father he had served with him in the gospel (Philippians 2:22). Paul was now asking him to come to him quickly and to bring Mark with him.

3. JOHN MARK DID NOT START WELL BUT ENDED WELL

“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry”
2 Timothy 4:11

John Mark did not start well in the Missions field. He was the nephew of Barnabas and became their assistant as they went on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). Along the way, John Mark left them at Perga in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Perhaps he was not ready for the rigours and challenges of the Missions trip. When Barnabas wanted to take him again on another Missions trip, Paul said “No”. They had a sharp contention concerning this (Acts 15:39). John Mark did not have a good start with reference to ministry. However, he did go on to prove himself in the latter years. Paul now wanted Timothy to bring Mark with him because he was useful to him with regards to ministry. John Mark did not start well but he ended well. Young people, let’s also learn to be true friends to each other and to be faithful as fellow servants. We may not have started well. But what is most important is that we end well. Let’s always seek to be useful for our Master in ministry.

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