2 Timothy 2:14-26
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 22
It is sad to say that many church members sit in pews every Sunday and seemingly make little or no difference in the ongoing work of the local church. I will have to confess that this attitude is foreign to my experience as a Christian. Since the day I was saved at age 14, I have had, at the very least, an interest and a desire to make a difference in the work of God’s kingdom. Dealing with church members who profess salvation, but have no real passion to serve the Lord, has been an anomaly to me since I first started pastoring in 1984.
While Scripture and experience tell us that the desire to serve the Lord is a result of having a new nature, it is also true that there are degrees of usefulness and effectiveness in serving the Lord. This is what this week’s lesson is all about. We are seeking to answer the question: How can I be more useful to God?
Paul’s inspired counsel to Timothy will help us answer this week’s question.
I. Be approved, not ashamed (vv. 14-19)
When it comes to dealing with false doctrine, truth is to error as light is to darkness. The key to being an “approved” workman versus being an “ashamed” workman has to do with our treatment of the Word of God. It’s not just knowledge or truth that is important. It’s how we use that knowledge or truth.
We are called as Christians to not only know the truth, but to handle or use the truth accurately. We must “rightly divide” God’s Word. This means we must interpret it and apply it properly.
We must not only know and understand it but we, as teachers, must seek to live it! That’s why Paul says what he does in verse 19 of our passage. If we teach God’s Word (even accurately and properly) but do not live and demonstrate it in our personal lives we will end up being “ashamed” of ourselves rather than being “approved” by God!
II. Be honorable, not dishonorable (vv. 20-21)
Verse 19 leads into the teaching of verses 20-21. We must ask the question: Do we want to be as effective as we can be in our service to the Lord? Do we just want to “get by” or do we really want to make a difference?
There are two kinds of vessels mentioned in this passage. How one responds to obedience and personal discipline determines how useful and noble their service is. When Paul uses these terms he is not saying that some Christians are worth more or less based upon some “intrinsic worth” in the individual.
What God is saying is that these distinctions are noted on those who choose to exercise discipline and precaution in their personal devotion to the Lord. It is hard for me to conceive that a person who is truly saved would not, at least, espouse to be the best they could be in the Lord’s service. God is not calling us to competition with other Christian workers but rather to live up to the gifts and opportunities He gives us!
However, if we continue to only be characterized as a vessel of dishonor it may be that we have never been saved. This is something to think about.
Our greatest challenge is not with others but with ourselves. Will we press on to greater heights of usefulness relative to our own need for spiritual growth and maturity?
III. Be wise, not foolish (vv. 22-26)
I personally have a problem with some of the movies, books, clothing, and music Christian workers are involved with today. It is as if we are trying to live as close as we can to sin without actually becoming directly involved in it. What Paul is saying to Timothy is just the opposite!
Paul is advocating towards staying as far away from sin as possible rather than seeing how close you can get. The difference is found in determining whether you want to be wise or foolish. It is foolish to take unnecessary chances with your testimony and influence. We must flee temptation, not see how close we can get to it without stepping over the line.
A wise Christian worker is aware and cautious regarding the pitfalls that many leaders today are falling into! Too many of our most respected leaders are falling into immorality and unethical behavior because they are not taking seriously the threat of sinful temptations.
Choose to be useful
We started this study with the words of Paul in verse 14, “of these things put them in remembrance…” We, as servants of Christ, must keep these “things” that were told to Timothy close to our hearts! If we do not, we will not be as useful as God would have us to be.
We are told in Isaiah 64:8 that God is the potter and we are the clay. I would think that the last thing any of us would want is to be put on a shelf as a vessel no longer useful to the Master. Lay hold on usefulness by choosing today to be an approved, honorable, and wise servant of the Lord!