These words seem very solemn; and they are.  Paul knew that he would soon be killed.  His ministry was almost finished, and he had no way of knowing how the Lord would fulfil His promise of building His church.  However, Paul had not abandoned his responsibility to keep on preaching the truth about Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:8-10), and to urge young Timothy to do the same.  Paul’s ‘charge’ affirms Timothy’s earlier commissioning (1 Timothy 4:14) as God’s call on his life.  It would be Jesus and not Paul who would assess the outcome of Timothy’s ministry.
 
Paul’s instruction was simple.  Preach the Word!  That gospel-critical activity must continue - when it is appreciated and when it is not; when people want to hear and when they do not.  The preaching must not be calculated to make people feel better, but to lead them to being right with God.  Correct and rebuke do not sound easy commands; they are not.  But only encouraging people, without saying what is wrong and how to put it right, would lead them into fruitless self-delusion, and God would not be glorified.  In 2 Corinthians 11:13, Paul describes such people as evil play-actors.

It would be exceptionally hard work for Timothy, and many would resist his preaching.  That is because the essence of the gospel is that sinners need to repent before they can welcome the Lord Jesus to make Himself at home in their hearts.  A gospel that minimises repentance is a false gospel.  Most people do not like to think that they are wrong and so they will react against the messenger, as Paul had personally experienced many times (2 Timothy 3:10-13).  So, Timothy needed to be very patient and ensure that he only taught the truth, with a heart full of love despite those who opposed him – not bending the message to make friends of his hearers but preaching repentance and forgiveness (Luke 24:47) so that those who believed might become friends of God (Romans 5:11).
 
The same need exists today.  All over the world, preachers are encouraging the faithless and bending the truth to suit their patrons and paymasters, or the whims of their society. That is spiritual folly which will be exposed when Jesus Christ returns.  How hard it is for preachers to stay true to the Word when their hearers want comfort, prosperity and social advancement. ‘A better life, the way I like it’, is the demand of many.  If you are a preacher – take Paul’s charge to Timothy personally; if you are a believer, urge your pastor not to deviate from the truth of Scripture.  All of us must pray that we, and all believers, will resist the pressure to distort the truth; and that all who are called to preach the Word will do so with integrity and without favouritism or discrimination.