Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
Coming off a week of wonderful lessons from God’s Word and outstanding fellowship with those of like precious faith, I still find myself impressed with how much knowledge can still be gained. The Bible, throughout its pages, commands us to dedicate ourselves to study. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. This passage pleads with us to see that we have no safe course of travel without the scripture as a map. Through God’s instruction, we are given the tool to navigate life (2 Peter 1:3).
A point we sometimes fail to give attention to is that knowing what is right will enable us to immediately see what’s wrong. Psalm 119:104 reads, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way”. The Psalmist is expressing his disdain for error because study has taught him truth. Let’s be real. We are going to hear a good deal of things in life that are not accurate. These falsehoods come in all areas of life. Sadly, false doctrine, the corrupting of scripture, is usually at or near the top of the list. Here’s the thing: we can’t see into another’s mind so we might not always know what is coming but by giving attendance to what we should we’ll see any error right away. 1 Timothy 4:13 reads, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine”. We can and should be prepared to give an answer (1 Pet 3:15).
When we are determined to study, we will know for ourselves (Acts 17:11-12). One of the most gratifying feelings one can get from teaching the Bible is to hear someone say “ah, now I understand”. Also, it can be concerning because, more often than not, this person has been just going along and not convinced to look into the matter themselves.
But, also notice 2 Timothy 5:16. As important as it is to study and handle correctly, it is just as necessary to shun nonsense. There are those who are learning every day but they are not pursuing knowledge that saves (John 8). They are just pursuing that which doesn’t avail. 2 Timothy 3:7 states, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.
By Jason Barger