Read: 2 Timothy 4:9-11   Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Paul knew that his end was near, and he greatly missed some of his closest friends. In 2 Timothy, Paul named 26 individuals whom he personally knew.

There was a measure of sadness in Paul because some of his friends had fallen away. Demas, a co-worker, had backslided and deserted Paul because he “loved this world” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas was no ordinary Christian worker; he was a valued member of Paul’s team.

Thankfully, Paul had many good associates and friends who would warm his heart and bring cheer to him. But they were not with him in this hour of need. Paul missed them greatly.

However Paul was not entirely alone. He had good old Doctor Luke with him. Luke’s presence must have brought great encouragement and cheer to Paul for the good doctor could also attend to Paul’s physical ailments and be Paul’s secretary to record what Paul dictated. He proved himself as a “tough friend for tough times.” Now Paul longed for the company of other close associates as time slipped by and he knew the end was near. He wanted to see the younger associates, if only to be encouraged by their commitment to the gospel and to be assured that the mission of God will continue on after his death.

He wanted to see the younger associates, if only to be encouraged by their commitment to the gospel and to be assured that the mission of God will continue on after his death

Therefore Paul wanted Timothy to visit him in Rome. “Do your best to come to me quickly,” he urged Timothy (2 Timothy 4:9). Timothy was one of his key protégés, as we have already understood. Paul was not satisfied with sending a personal and poignant letter to Timothy, he also wanted to see him face to face if possible. Paul was also eager to see John Mark. “Get Mark and bring him with you” (v. 11). Paul had argued vehemently and sharply with Barnabas over including Mark in the team on the second missionary journey, because Mark had abandoned them in the first journey. Barnabas saw potential in Mark, being ever the encourager he was, and he wanted Mark to be given a second chance. Paul, on the other hand, was a man driven by his mission; he had no space for quitters on his team. Paul and Barnabas were so divided in their opinions about Mark that they went separate ways (Acts 15:36-41). Paul took Silas while Barnabas took Mark.

Subsequently a more mature Paul made up with a more mature Mark. Here, he described Mark as “helpful to me in my ministry” 2 Timothy 4:11). What a change in opinion! This was surely the result of God’s work of grace in both men. Mark “had rocketed from uselessness to usefulness!” He had become a key associate of Paul (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24) and Paul wanted very much to see him. Possibly, he not only wanted to be encouraged by this young man, he also wanted to ensure that he was totally reconciled with Mark before his death.

What a change in opinion! This was surely the result of God’s work of grace in both men

Paul was a man who loved God wholeheartedly. As a result, he also loved God’s people and the people of this broken world. In his many relationships, Paul developed a warm and hospitable attitude towards others. He had a wide network of friends, colleagues, and brothers and sisters in Christ. In this final epistle, he continued to mention names of people who were dear to him (2 Timothy 4:19-21). These were real people, with whom Paul developed lasting friendships, and whose presence he dearly missed as he ran the last lap of his race.

In sharing various needs as he faced death, Paul revealed a healthy holistic perspective of the Christian life. It is not limited to the spirit and its needs, but the life of the spirit is also lived out in a physical body and expressed through the mind and relationships with people. In all these areas, Paul was human like all of us, with various needs to be met legitimately by the grace of God, and which enabled him to live a life pleasing to God.

 

Consider this:

  1. What are our social needs? How can these be met in legitimate and godly ways?
  2. Make a list of people who have been or are important to you now. Is there anyone you have neglected lately? Pray for all of them.

 

Excerpt and adapted from Faithful to the End by Robert Solomon. © 2014 by Robert Solomon. Used by permission of Discovery House. All rights reserved.