Please don't tease the tiger.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm;

We cannot pretend that there are no troubles in the Christian life. But we also must not allow ourselves to think that the troubles that we face are beyond the overcoming power of the Lord. Also remember, that this power to overcome is now at work within you.

Alexander the coppersmith did the Apostle Paul great harm. People will do that. They opposed the Head of the church. They also turn against those who are ambassadors for Christ. It is in this context of harm from the world that true faith is vindicated. That is not a statement of pride in man, but glory to God, who is the Author and Finisher of true faith. He wrote the book on faith, and you are one of His living letters.

the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

God will not be mocked. Those who trouble the Lord by persecuting the church will be troubled by the Lord when he comes. But then we must remember the life story of the man who wrote this letter. God gives more grace.

Still, sometimes we make an error in minimizing the wrong that is out there and that is in us. Bad deeds are evil. They deserve repayment in this life and even eternal condemnation. But then we have found a way out of that condemnation which propels us away from the bad and toward the good, and we will not be ashamed of that message.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

In the meantime, while we wait for the Lord and serve Him with our lives, we need to be as wise as serpents as well as being gentle as doves. Timothy needed to steer clear of this man. He was a rock under the surface ready to harm the vessel of the unsuspecting sailor.

This man strongly opposed Paul's message, just as there were those in Judea who strongly opposed the message of Jesus when He came to be the Lamb of God. The natural man does not agree with the preaching of the cross. He may imagine that there is some other way to peace with God. He may consider the Word of the gospel offensive.

Nonetheless, we preach Christ crucified, but we do not look for unnecessary trouble when we do so. That trouble will come without teasing the tiger.