2 Timothy 2:14-26
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. [1]
__________________
What jumps out in this section is Paul’s insistence that Timothy avoid getting embroiled in useless quarrels. Look at the words Paul uses: “quarreling about words,” “godless chatter,” “foolish and stupid arguments.” Instead Timothy is to “correctly handle the word of truth,” and gently instruct those who oppose it.
Paul doesn’t tell us what exactly the godless chatter was about. Following his own advice, he doesn’t waste any time getting involved with Timothy in the content of these quarrels. But what Paul is really saying to Timothy is to stay on task. Keep the main thing the main thing. In all his teaching and leading, don’t be distracted by other issues, and so spend your energy and capital on that which is not essential.
What is essential: Preaching Jesus Christ. This is what Paul has been encouraging Timothy throughout this letter so far. This is what it means to correctly handle the word of truth, to maintain focus on the gospel.
So what does this say to me today? Keep the main thing the main thing. This speaks to me know only as a preacher and leader like Timothy, but in the everyday task of making disciples. The most important thing that the people around me need, especially those I’m called to disciple, is Jesus: Knowing him, trusting him, following him. Often those who are outside the faith or new to the faith get tripped up on discussions and quarrels about the age and mode creation, church traditions, or points of doctrine that aren’t central to the faith. This passage reminds me, not to ignore such concerns, but to keep the focus on the main point: following Jesus.
So my prayer today is that the Holy Spirit would lead and enable me to keep the main thing the main thing, that in my pursuit to make disciples, I would keep my focus, as well as the focus of others, on Jesus.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
To subscribe to Abide Daily Devotion e-mail please click here.
[1] The New International Version. (2011). (2 Ti 2:14–26). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Leave a Reply