2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
In my Bible, I have a note written next to this verse that says, “8/12/11, From my dad about himself.” This verse represented his goal in life. It was a conversation we had together that day, about when his life would end and specific verses from Scripture and hymns that had been important to him. Ten years later, he entered Christ’s kingdom. How he loved studying God’s Word and loved to share it with others.
The previous verses, in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, was a Christian hymn that was known during the time of Paul and Timothy. Paul tells Timothy, “The saying is trustworthy, for:
- If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
- If we endure, we will also reign with him;
- If we deny him, he will also deny us;
- If we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.
The truth that “God is faithful and He is in control” has been coming up repeatedly in discussions within our Small Group, in verses in Scripture I have been reading these past several weeks, and right here in 2 Timothy 2:13. Even though Paul was in chains in prison, he had comfort knowing that God never fails to accomplish His plan because it says, “And we know that for those that love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Then Matthew 28:20 declares, “. . . And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Paul knew he was facing death, yet he trusted in God’s faithfulness, which gave him perseverance.
Another word for the phrase “do your best” is the word “zealous.” The Greek word spoudazo (spoo-dad-zoe) means zealously pursuing God’s approval. “It signifies to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence.” W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Paul admonishes Timothy to keep focused on his calling and purpose in life and ministry. “Be diligent: Paul often had to encourage Timothy to courage and action. Earlier in the chapter (2 Timothy 2:3-5), Paul encouraged him to hard work and endurance for the service of the Lord.” David Guzik, Commentary.
Keeping God’s Word in our hearts and minds helps us get through trials as we are tested. As we apply it, we will discover God’s will and seek His approval. Any trial that we go through forces us to study and seek the Word to find God’s will.
Warren Wiersbe has said, “What does it mean to be ashamed? Certainly, it means that such a workman’s work is below standard and cannot be accepted. It means loss of reward. In fact, in Paul’s day, a builder was fined if he failed to follow the specification. When the Lord judges our works, it will be revealed whether we as workmen have handled the Word of God honestly and carefully.”
The Bible warns us in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he had done in the body, whether good or evil.” That is where our intentions need to be centered. This is what we should zealously pursue – God’s approval above anyone else’s.
The Message states 2 Timothy 2:15 this way, “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.”
Listen to Matt Maher’s Lord I Need You – Lyric Video