2 Timothy 2:14-26 (2)

How can we live faithfully as Christians?  We noted yesterday that faithfulness is enhanced if we are willing and able to hear repeated truth, reminders, from God’s word.  And it will be necessary to avoid unprofitable, empty and divisive arguments.  Like Paul, the servants of Christ have authority from Him to build people up and not to destroy them (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).  So we must avoid and shun what would destroy someone’s faith.  But let us take some time to consider what this passage says about how to build up the faith of God’s people.

·        2:15: In contrast to words that do not profit but ruin the hearers, Paul commands Timothy and us to be diligent to present yourself approved to God.  God’s approval revolves around rightly dividing the word of truth. 

o   To rightly divide simply means to cut it straight, to accurately understand and apply God’s word.  Be careful here.  This is not the same as being able to accurately defend one’s systematic theology.  Paul said that he kept back nothing that was helpful (Acts 20:20) and what is helpful (profitable for building people up) is SCRIPTURE (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  As Paul told Titus, God’s servants must be holding fast the faithful word … that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict (Titus 1:9).  You will remember that 1 Timothy 4 was filled with encouragement to Timothy to study, live and teach the word of God.  

o   This is the kind of ministry and minister that is approved by God.  Paul himself set the example for Timothy.  Paul did not let persuasive words of human wisdom distort the pure word of God; rather he ministered in the power of the Spirit so that the faith of those who heard would not stand in man’s wisdom but in God’s power (1 Cor. 2:4-5).  Consider what this means to us today.  Often we see preachers and preaching that is enhanced by all manner of technology or that is made to be very entertaining or very intellectual.  People’s faith, in other words their response, will likely be in the presentation or the presenter.  If a preacher comes along who simply opens the Bible without all the extras, he likely will not have the same following (popularity), even though he comes with sound doctrine.  But methodology is not the key to God’s approval; the issue is sound doctrine.

o   Failure in this matter will result in shame.  If Timothy strives about words to no profit instead of diligently ministering the word of truth it will become evident that his ministry is not really building people up.  People not built up will not endure; and when a church falls apart after the pastor leaves, retires or dies that pastor is shamed.  He is seen to be ineffective.  And most importantly, when he appears before God he will be ashamed because he did not have God’s approval.

In serving Christ let us be diligent to please God by keeping the word of truth at the core of everything we are doing.