Study to shew thyself approved unto God...

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It seems as if so many people want to believe that all they have to do to please God is go to church every now and then, maybe enjoy a gospel singing here and there, and be sure and ask the blessing before their meals, with a prayer or two occasionally thrown in for their children and their health. Paul is telling us here in his second letter to Timothy that we should study God’s word to be pleasing to Him.

The word of God is just as much a gift to us as the free gift of salvation. The only way for us to know the Lord is to study His word and meditate upon His truths. How can we sing or preach or witness about a God we don’t even know because we have rejected the gift of His word. The Lord has revealed His very essence to us in His scripture. As we study, He enlightens us with wisdom and understanding, just as Jesus did when He told His disciples the meaning of His parables. Truths that are hidden from the rest of the world are free for our taking when we choose to obey and study to show ourselves approved unto God.

I don’t want to be like the Sadducees whom Jesus said erred by not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. I wish to be like David who said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” and like Jeremiah who said, “Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” I wish to be the good ground on which the seed was sown and brought forth good fruit with patience.
Solomon said in Proverbs 1:2-7, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Don’t be a fool and build your house upon the sand, be a wise child of God building your house upon the rock of His word. We should never think that our wisdom is so great that we have no more need to study, for the Bible says those who think they stand should take heed lest they fall.

Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
The Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” If we believe that, as we should, then we will delight in His law and meditate upon it day and night.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.