Pastor Dave continues his teaching in 2 Timothy.
“Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:14–17
Everyone is influencing someone, whether for good or bad. To effectively remind people of Jesus, we need to be men and women who are in the Bible and growing in personal holiness. The previous passage in 2 Timothy ends with the promise of reigning with Christ if we endure with him. Then in verse 14 Paul tells Timothy, “Remind them of these things.” The “them” in this verse is people Timothy has influence over.
Refining work
Paul tells Timothy his audience is God and he should work like a day laborer for him, ultimately presenting himself as one approved. The word that’s translated “approved” in our English Bibles is a word blacksmiths and goldsmiths would have been familiar with: it meant taking a piece of metal and burning it so the draw burns off and the outcome is something pure and of value. It’s approved as the real stuff. Paul often reminds Timothy that he is the real deal and he should be a worker that pursues finishing well.
Cutting straight
An approved workman rightly divides the word of truth. The second half of verse 15 literally means he cuts straight. Think in terms of a mason laying bricks or a surgeon making a cut. When you pick up the Bible, it’s true. There’s no variance, there’s no flaw. We’re instructed to teach and handle the Bible as one who would cut straight.
Becoming like Jesus
“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” 2 Timothy 2:19
Here Paul quotes Numbers 16 and tells Timothy that the evidence that you’re a leader chosen by God is that your personal holiness is progressively growing. In other words, it’s a life that looks more and more like Jesus’—you think like Jesus, feel like Jesus, speak like Jesus, act like Jesus.
How do we know that God has chosen us? When sin is becoming less and less a part of our life, and in holiness we’re looking more like Jesus.
Questions
- Are you reminding those in your influence about Jesus? Paul tells Timothy to remind those he knows of Jesus.
- Are you growing in your understanding of the Bible? Your foundation needs to be in Jesus. Study and memorize Scripture, listen to sermons, read Christian books. Bible reading and prayer are always the foundations of growth and maturity.
- Are you growing in your personal holiness? Even though God sees us through the lens of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, we still need to be progressively growing. Sin should have less and less hold on our lives the deeper we grow.
This is Pastor Dave’s fifth post on 2 Timothy. Read earlier posts here, here, here, and here.
