“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
The Few
Paul writes this near the actual end of his life, and it is worth noticing his own posture toward this ending, ready to be offered, not resigned or fearful, but genuinely ready, this whole letter to Timothy itself standing as the actual, final act of investment Paul offers before his own departure.
This closes the second movement of this book with this needed, sobering reminder. Genuine investment in others has a genuine end point, your own eventual departure, worth holding as motivation, not for anxious urgency, but for the same kind of readiness Paul models, investment made faithfully across a whole life, not delayed indefinitely.
This closes the loop this whole second movement has traced. Souls imparted alongside information, humble service modeled, comprehensive example given, six-fold character examined, gladness in giving and being spent, fatherly exhortation and comfort combined, ongoing travail endured, strength grounded in grace, nothing profitable withheld.
As this movement closes, consider your own eventual departure, whenever it actually comes, and whether your own investment in others has been offered with this same readiness Paul describes, faithful across a whole life, not delayed, trusting this whole final movement to explore what fruit such faithful, lifelong investment actually produces.
Pour Into the Few
- Consider your own eventual departure, and whether your investment in others reflects genuine readiness.
- Take one concrete step today toward this readiness, not delaying genuine investment indefinitely.
- Carry this whole second movement’s exploration forward into this week’s look at genuine multiplication.
Prayer
Lord, let me be ready, like Paul, to be offered, whenever my own departure comes, having invested faithfully across my whole life, not delaying genuine investment indefinitely. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine investment is offered faithfully across a whole life, in readiness for eventual departure.