WHO ME?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Tim. 2:15

Paul is admonishing a younger saint (Timothy) to study the Word of Truth. Do you know that Timothy had been preaching for 15 years when Paul gave him this exhortation? Paul knew Timothy as a man of faith and that he had a godly upbringing, II Tim. 1:3-5. Paul spoke of Timothy’s “unfeigned faith.” It was not a put on show of faith for others to be impressed about. It was true, pure, unpretended.

Paul committed to Timothy the stewardship of this wonderful Gospel, knowing that someone had to carry on after he departed this earth, I Tim. 1:18. This is a grave responsibility. In I Tim. 4:13, Paul counsels Timothy “to give attendance (or give thyself) to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” In other words, ‘stay current with the truth, give yourself to reading it, to be able to teach the doctrine of God.’

We might think we know the Word well enough. But when we try to give it out, we may come to realize we need to know it a lot better. Let us not be as some who run here and there because they are attracted to crowds, loud music and fleshly demonstrations. Let us be grounded and built up in the Word of God.

May we take this admonition to Timothy personally, this is to you and to me. What are we to study? “The Word of Truth,” God’s Word to us. Why? “To show ourselves approved unto man? NO, unto God. This is pleasing unto Him.

“A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” You won’t embarrass yourself if you know and have the truth. Zeal for the Lord is wonderful, spiritual demonstrations have their place, but you can’t live on emotions. If you don’t have the truth and stay current with it, you should be ashamed. You will embarrass yourself and you won’t even know it. We desire that God will use us. But how can you be a workman for God if you are not equipped with His Word. You can be zealously affected and have no worthwhile message. You cannot give out the Word if you haven’t been taking it in. Did the Lord ever put it in your heart to study God’s Word? What happened? Did God change His mind? NO. May we not be guilty of putting other priorities first.

What does it mean, “Rightly dividing the Word of Truth?” Oh, this is so important. Some say, ‘Every Promise In The Book Is Mine.’ No, some promises are wholly to the nation of Israel and are earthly promises. We are a heavenly people. Some promises are of judgment which are for the wicked, we don’t want those promises. We are of the Church and live in the Age of Grace. If we don’t know how to rightly divide the Word of God, we would think we are under Law instead of Grace.

Where do we find the teaching to the Church in the Scriptures? In Paul’s Epistles. It is true that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...” II Tim. 3:16. But we need to study Paul’s letters to be able to rightly divide the Bible. Let us continue in the Word, study it so it stays fresh with us. Trust the Holy Spirit to make it real and virbrant in our lives. Let us study Paul’s message until his message has gripped our hearts.

E. J. D