I think you'd all
agree with me that it is easy for us to become entangled with words that
are of no profit. Perhaps you can remember a few senseless arguments you've
engaged in in times past.... In 2 Timothy chapter 2, the apostle Paul
is training young Timothy as a preacher of the gospel, teaching him the
kinds of things he will need to put others in remembrance of. We could
stand a few lessons ourselves, especially when it comes to avoiding fruitless
discussions, amen ladies??
2 Timothy 2:14 says, "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging
them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but
to the subverting of the hearers."
In this portion of scripture surrounding this particular verse, false
doctrine was being condemned... What kinds of words would you consider
to be of no profit? How do you know you are right in your estimation?
No matter what you and I may think is of no value, what really matters
is what GOD says is of value or not! Notice that Paul was sharpening Timothy's
focus (and ours) by stating - "charging them BEFORE THE LORD".... He was
emphasizing that GOD'S viewpoint is what we are to base our every conclusion
on, for He is the hearer of our every conversation!
Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."
Down in verse 16 of 2 Timothy 2, scripture says to shun profane and vain
babblings. Further on ahead in verse 23, foolish and unlearned questions
were mentioned as to be avoided. The Bible describes these words as eating
like a canker and increasing unto more ungodliness! They do nothing more
than corrupt our hearts and minds. After reading God's Word, which is
always profitable, NOW we understand what words of man are of no profit
and why they are of no profit... Yet why do we fall prey to them so easily?!
The answer lies within verse 15 of 2 Timothy....
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Has there ever been a time that you can look back on, where you were ashamed
of yourself for being suckered by the devil into an unprofitable discussion
and should have known better than to enter into it? What can prevent this
from happening again to you? If you'll notice, verse 15 of our main text
begins with the word "STUDY". That's the key! Studying the Word of God
will give you the wisdom and insight BEFOREHAND as to what conversations
are profitable -including those that would tear your marriage apart! Yes,
we desperately need the wisdom that studying the Bible affords us to prevent
strife from occurring even in the midst of our marriages and homes.....
Becoming a student of the Bible keeps us from all kinds of trouble and
prevents us from being ashamed of ourselves for not knowing better, amen?
Yet another reason for studying is also mentioned in verse 15. It says
we are to study to "shew thyself approved unto God." What does it mean
to be approved by God? It would please God to know that you consider His
Word such a treasure in your life that you would spend much time in it!
That is how we get to know the Lord, amen? How pleasing that must be to
our God for Him to know this is our heart's desire.... Ladies, if we are
busy studying to know the Word of God and the God of the Word, we aren't
going to have much time left to spend in arguments or unprofitable discussions,
amen? We are going to wisely recognize them afar off and avoid them -
"head them off at the pass" - as the cowboys would say! Pr. 17:14 says,
"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave
off contention, before it be meddled with." It's very difficult to stop
the stream of wrong words once they start flowing, amen? Don't even let
a trickle of strife slip out of your two lips, dear lady! It's high time
we understood that such unprofitable conversations only undermine God's
work....
1 Tim. 6:3-4, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings..."
Titus 3:9, "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions,
and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."
The word "doting" was used above.... Are you familiar with it's meaning?
Someone who dotes is excessively fond of idle talk. I hope you haven't
been "doting" about from person to person digging up questions and strifes
and stirring up a hellish mess! That is NOT the kind of workman God is
looking for, Christian woman! Quite often, that is precisely what takes
place in many of these so-called Christian chat rooms where countless
women waste their time doting about issues and topics that are unwise
and unprofitable for them - and love every minute of it! The most favored
chat rooms among God's people seem to be where the largest amount of strife
takes place! It's a shame.... An approved workman diligently studies the
Word but also seeks to apply it to his own life when it comes to ordering
his discussions aright. An ashamed workman however, wastes his time arguing
and engaging in unwholesome conversations that are evil and vain as far
as God is concerned!
So dear lady, when are YOU tempted to engage in godless chatter or stupid
arguments? What false doctrines have destroyed the faith of someone you
know? How soon might it happen to you?? In these last days that is happening
faster than we care to admit! Better get studying and better beware of
your conversations as well! Guard your heart and while you're at it, guard
your marriage by "heading off at the pass" those conversations that would
stir up strife between you and your husband, giving the devil a foothold
in your home!
2 Timothy 2:24 says, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but
be gentle unto all men...."
Yes, you read it right - that verse says ALL men. That means, dear wife,
we are to include our husbands in this list of people we are not to strive
with! God says we must not strive but rather be gentle..... Sort of sounds
like the description of a meek and quiet spirit, doesn't it? I wonder
how many men might take the long way home from work just to avoid the
strife that awaits him there....
Strife is the result of a contentious spirit, a spirit that seeks to strive
(Proverbs 26:21)
Strife is a result of hatred (Proverbs 10:12)
Strife is a result of pride (Proverbs 13:10)
Strife is a result of anger (Proverbs 29:22)
Ladies, pursuing strife is unwise, insignificant, unprofitable and produces
shame. Doesn't sound like anything I want to be part of, how about you??
Perhaps if you frequented those strife-filled chat rooms less often you
wouldn't come away from your computer with such a short fuse and a striving
spirit!
Pr. 25:8, "Go not forth hastily to strive..."
Pr. 20:3 says, "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife..."
What then is the alternative? The answer of course, is found in scripture
in Phillipians 2:3....
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than
themselves."
Can you do that, dear lady? Can you in "lowliness of mind", or rather
humility, place others before yourself? Is everything that you pursue
for the purpose of bringing glory to yourself or do you sincerely have
the best interest of others at heart? If that is true, you won't be meddling
with strife but busy studying instead..... You haven't forgotten Paul's
lesson already, have you??
"Studying to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."
Ladies, studying God's Word will make it easy for us not to become guilty
"doters"! What kind of words have we been given by God? Words of TRUTH!
You can't go wrong with the truth, amen? It's a preservative.... Has the
devil been feeding you a lie and causing you to fall into unprofitable
discussions thereby successfully filling your heart and home with strife?
You need to STUDY that Truth and prevent yourself from being Satan's sucker....
Learn what is of no value and live by it! You can avoid much shame if
you'll just put forth some effort to present yourself a workman approved
unto God!
John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
How about it dear lady? Are you willing to drop doting? Let's not be guilty
of filling our homes with contention and causing our husbands to feel
like it would be better to sleep on the roof than inside with a brawling
woman.... Let's not fall easily into arguments with those around us but
rather develop godliness and a more gentle spirit. OF THESE THINGS we
are safe to discuss, for these are valuable words as far as God is concerned!
We must put ourselves and others in remembrance of such an important matter
as knowing the difference.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
