II Timothy 2:4

“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

A civilian would not ever get entangled in military pursuits as it is not his place. Paul says it is the same for the soldier. Hi gives three reasons:

First, he lives a life of ‘service’ and this service is to and for others.  Jesus is my model here; “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” (Matthew 10:45) 

Second, even though he may have access and opportunity, it is inappropriate for a soldier in active duty service to invest time pursuing ‘civilian interests’. 

Third, his supreme and overarching goal is to ‘please’ his commanding officer in everything for He is the one who called him out of civilian life and into a life of service. Paul writes of pleasing the commander in Colossians 1:10; “And we pray that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”