A Workman, Approved by God

A Workman, Approved by God

2Ti 2:15-17  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  (17)  And their word will eat as doth a canker: …

What do we do with verses like the above? Do we steer away from them because they are too serious and foreboding? Do we ignore them because they are too weighty or admonishing? It is in times like these that we need to remember that these are not just words in a book, but that they are the words of God, our Creator, and words that carry life and truth that cannot be disregarded.

These verses tell us that there is a certain way of studying and understanding God’s Word. If we adhere to this, God approves us as workmen. If we do not adhere to that specific form of study, we are not approved by God as workmen, and we bring shame upon ourselves and upon the written Word. That shame and dishonour comes in the form of profane and vain babblings. Now, just stop there and take note. What is the message we are learning here? It comes down to this. If we do not study, understand, and communicate the Word of God in a specific way, the words that come from our mouth becomes profane, and is no more than useless babble to those that listen! That useless message, over time, will increase towards ungodliness, and will spread over and consume, not merely destroying the parts immediately affected, but will extend into the surrounding healthy parts and destroy them also. So it is with erroneous, unapproved doctrines. They will not merely eat out the truth in the particular matter to which they refer, but they will also spread over and corrupt other truths.

Study to show yourself approved

Study to show yourself approved

Paul tells Timothy that there's something required in a workman, and it’s not optional. It is a requirement of God. Look what he tells Timothy in 2 Timothy,

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

He said study to show thyself approved! This is a personal responsibility between an individual and God. It doesn't matter if you've got an ordination paper from whatever denominational church, and it doesn't matter if you've got a seven-year degree from a theological seminary or bible institute. This verse speaks of a personal, individual responsibility, between that man and God. He is showing himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth is not something you do as a hobby or secondary activity. It is the very skill required to approve yourself unto God. When God's looking at a workman, and He is judging whether that workman is approved unto Him or not, the very skill He is looking for is whether that man rightly divides the word of truth.