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2 Timothy 4:9 "Do your best to come to me soon", Paul writes to Timothy. He says "Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me", while Crescens and Titus have gone to other places as well, and only Luke remains with him. (2 Timothy 4:10-11)

 

A few days ago I wrote about how we can devote ourselves too much to the work we do to earn a living, at the expense of devoting ourselves to God. Timothy had duties to attend to, I am certain, and Paul tacitly acknowledges that by urging him to do his best to come soon. But Paul obviously thinks Timothy has his priorities straight, and trusts that Timothy will tend to his duties as is proper and then come to Paul.

 

We can see Paul's words as representing God's direction to Timothy. Paul lovingly requests Timothy to come help him, while allowing Timothy the time and space to accomplish other things that are asked of him. Paul knows Timothy well enough to trust that he will answer this call, as does God. This is how God uses us to accomplish His will, by gently, lovingly asking us to serve Him both by doing our daily duties in the proper way, and by being willing to leave them when He calls us to do other things. Contrast Timothy to Demas, who did not have this prioritization. I don't know what drew Demas away, other than that he was in love with the present world. He was not primarily in love with God, so neither Paul nor God could prevail upon him to help with the mission.

 

We should always be ready to change course when necessary, while still seeing to our immediate duties. We should not be so attached to what we think we have to do that we say no to God, or tell Him that we'll get there when we can. In other words, we must "do our best to come to Him soon."