Jump Start # 1841

2 Timothy 4:16 “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.”

I was preaching last night and used this verse in my lesson. It is one of those verses that just stays with a person for a while. Here the aged Paul was in Rome. He was to stand before Caesar himself. All the cards were on the table. This was a life or death situation. The last few years of his life has been spent in prisons, often in chains. He knows the end of his life was near. He has already had one meeting with the Emperor.

It was this occasion that Paul speaks about in our verse. Paul had charges against him, but he had no one to stand with him. He was alone. No one spoke a good word for him. No one was there to sit with him. He had no one to pray for him. He was alone. What a terrible, terrible feeling to be alone.

The passage brings two thoughts:

First, those that could have been with him deserted him. It wasn’t that they were busy. It wasn’t that they were elsewhere. They left. They left Paul alone. Maybe they were scared. Maybe they thought that they too would be arrested. Maybe they thought there was little for them to do. But the word Paul uses is “deserted.”

Second, it sounds as if these others did wrong. Paul states, “may it not be counted against them.” Why would he even say that? Why does that come up? It is because they thought only of themselves and they deserted Paul when he needed them the most. They left Paul alone. They left Paul without any help. Paul who had sacrificed himself for them, did not receive the same back. Paul who had worked and worked all these years for others, now had no one there for him. This was wrong, but Paul did not want this to be held against them. Even when wronged, Paul was thinking highly of these brethren. They were guilty of not showing love. They were not acting like Jesus. Where was the “deny yourself and take up your cross” stuff? Where was the “blest be the tie that binds our hearts?” Not there. Nothing. Gone. Alone. This was wrong. This was sinful. Paul’s words are, “don’t count this against them.” Similar to Stephen’s cry for the forgiveness of his executioners. Similar to our Lord saying, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” The only difference is that Paul is not dealing with Roman guards, or Jews, but brethren. Christians ought not to do this. But they did.

There are lessons for us. We have stood on both sides here. There were times we may have let others down. Maybe folks needed us, but we were tired. We were busy. We just didn’t feel like it. So we didn’t go. We weren’t at the hospital when a family might have needed us. We weren’t at the funeral. We failed to take any food to a family. We forgot to pray for someone who asked for prayers. We got so busy in our world that we forgot about others. Oh, others will be there, we say to ourselves. That didn’t happen for Paul. We can’t do it all, so we excuse ourselves and some may be deserted.

It’s hard to deny yourself as discipleship calls. It’s hard to do good as we have opportunity. Opportune times may not be the best times for us. At the end of the day, we just want to go home and stay there. There are so many demands at home. The family needs us. The yard needs cutting. There are bills that must be paid. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe the weekend would be better. And when we get around to finding the time and remembering, the opportunity has passed. They no longer need us.

Deserting others when they need us is painful. It makes people feel like they are not loved. It’s the very thing that causes some to start thinking about looking for another place to worship. It’s not the preaching. It’s not the classes. It’s feeling alone. Even in a big church, some can feel deserted.

Now, before we leave this, there is another side to this coin, and that is communication. I’ve known folks who were in and out of the hospital and complained, “No one came to see me.” The reason was, “No one knew you were in the hospital.” We are not mind readers. Let folks know. If you don’t tell others, then don’t complain that no one came to see you. Let others know. Let others pray for you. Let others help you.

The other lesson here is to stand in Paul’s shoes. Not only may we be guilty of deserting others when they need us, but there may be times when we are the deserted ones. We were left alone. No one came for us. No one called. No one brought food. No one. That’s an empty feeling. What do we do when we stand in Paul’s shadows? Most of us complain. We let it be know that the church is not friendly. We put on an ugly face and let it be known how hurt we were.

Paul’s words are “let it not be counted against them.” Not counted against them by Heaven, which means, don’t mark this as a sin against them. But also, “not counted against them” by Paul. He was forgiving. He didn’t write these other brethren off. He didn’t wasn’t finished with them. He wasn’t going to turn his back on them. That’s what we do. Not Paul. In fact he calls for Timothy to come. He states that “Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brethren” greet you. These must have been folks that were with Paul. They were some of the Christians in Rome. Where were these people when Paul needed them? Why weren’t these people at his first defense? Paul didn’t write them off as useless.

Forgiving others is easy when there isn’t much to forgive. But when we have been counting on others and they let us down, that’s when we either “not count it against them,” or we tell them and the world, how much they hurt us. The deserted Paul didn’t give up. He didn’t allow others to change how he believed. In fact, he reminds us that “the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” How, we don’t know. God did not desert Paul.

So, may we keep our eyes open to help others. There are opportunities every day to serve, pray and support others. Don’t ever be too busy that you can’t help others. But likewise, don’t carry a chip on your shoulders because someone let you down. Don’t let that destroy the unity in a church. Don’t let that mar your relationship and walk with the Lord. Don’t allow what they do to be an excuse for you to do the same. Paul was deserted, but he didn’t desert others. You may be let down by others, but don’t you let others down. It may be the very people that you were counting on that you have the opportunity to help and serve. Remember the “do unto others” verse? The golden rule? Apply it. Use it. Treat others as you would want to be treated. The very people that let you down may be the ones that you serve. Do it with a smile. Do it without grumbling. Your spirit and your example may be the very thing needed to open their eyes and change their hearts.

Deserted—it’s a terrible feeling. May we see the value of being there for one another.

Roger