1-2 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead - and by his appearing and his kingdom - preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[ (healthy) teaching, but, having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,  fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8 From the English Standard Version

The apostle Paul knew that he didn't have much time left in this world – that's clear from in vs 6 where he says “the time of my departure has come.” But what was his biggest concern? (vs 3-4)

He had some fears concerning the future of the gospel. He had no doubt already seen from his own preaching that not everyone likes to hear the truth, especially about things that are wrong in their life, or that we will all have to give an account of our life to God. Just as we speak of people with 'itchy ears' for the latest gossip, so Paul says there’ll be people in religious circles who are ever running after the newest fads. People who chase after myths and ideas which they find exciting to talk about, but which don’t challenge their hearts or rebuke sin in their life. So what was the charge he was passing on to Timothy? (vs 1-2)

He was to stick to the message he had learned from the Bible and heard from Paul. He was not to grow tired of standing for the truth, and he mustn’t be afraid of speaking it to people in such a way that their consciences would be pricked. This was not to be done in angry outbursts, but in patient and persistent teaching. While that's essential for anyone who is a pastor of a Church (or an evangelist like Timothy was), it is also important for all of us when we have opportunity for a conversation with someone on issues of what God says is right, and what they may think is right. We must tell them God's word.

Why is this important not only for the person we're talking to, but for our own life as well? (vs 7)

Like the apostle Paul, we are to be faithful to the end of our journey in this world. We mustn't compromise God's word to avoid conflicts, opposition, and even persecution, on the way. Those things are sure to come along if we are true to God's message. Paul describes living for God and remaining true to Jesus in this world as a ‘fight that must be fought’ and a (long distance) ‘race that has to be run’. Those illustrations speak of tough battles, and the need to endure. He also speaks of 'keeping the faith'. Not turning our back on Christ, and not leaving out things in His gospel that we, or the people we are talking to, find hard.

This may sound quite frightening. What made a person like Paul endure being run out of town by angry mobs, being stoned, and being imprisoned with the probability of execution? (vs 8)

He knew that this present world is still experiencing the tragic consequences of rebellion against God, and that there was something far better beyond it's bitter sorrows. He speaks in terms of winning a victor's crown. Better still, of being made righteous enough (through Christ) to be in the presence of God, who is absolutely righteous. He knows that God, who has seen all he endured, will reward him for his faithfulness. He doesn’t say just what form that reward will take, but we know from God's creation that He does wonderful things. The lovely news for Christians is that Christ's rewards are not just for the apostles, but for all who have loved his appearing. It's not glib to say that God's rewards will far outweigh whatever being faithful to Him has cost us in this life. Be faithful, and press on.