"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
Part 3
Yesterday: We Are Presenting Ourselves to the Lord
“To show thyself.”
We, believers, are striving to live right before God’s face. In doing so, we will have a good testimony in front of others.
Today: We Serve God Looking for His Approval
“Approved unto God.”
God’s “approval” is so crucial for His child. We believers cannot afford to be worldly “approval junkies.” But we are seeking the only approval that really matters – God’s. This word approval is interesting in the original text; it means “tested by trial”[1] (JFB). Not just the testing, but it is “passing the test”[2] (Wallace). The word “approve” was used in ancient days for refining – the testing of precious metals. This was a slow process that took time to do.
“When used of silver, the phrase means ‘legal tender’—i.e., genuine silver with no filler. It is sometimes used of the refining of gold through fire. The fire burns off the dross so that only the pure gold remains. If we truly present ourselves to God, we can be assured that he will slowly but surely, burn the dross away. All that remains is the authentic person that God has been fashioning in Christ”[3] (Wallace).
Then that believer is “approved of God.” Followers of Jesus, we diligently strive to keep ourselves on God’s altar (Romans 12:1-2), so He can complete the process to His approval. From His Life ministry in the Gospels, we see that Jesus had His Father’s approval.
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).
Pastors, with God’s approval, preach God’s Word with power, as Paul did.
“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so, we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
It’s not just the preachers but also ordinary believers like us who need to be accepted by God.
“Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household” (Romans 16:10).
Each believers’ work for the Lord is essential for the cause of Christ. We need to do it well while we are still here, “at home in the body.”
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:8-9).
If we are serving Christ with our lives and working with people, we need to have God’s approval on us…
“Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:16-19).
…did you notice the sense in which if a believer has God’s approval, that they ought to be acceptable to brothers and sisters in Christ as well. Pastors and Christian workers need to remember this. We serve Christ by serving His people well.
Come back tomorrow as we look at “a workman.” What does a workman do?
Quote: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on my side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right”[4] (Abraham Lincoln).
[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 424). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Wallace, Daniel B. Wallace’s quote Downloaded: Friday, July 23, 2021. From: https://bible.org/article/crisis-word-or-message-pastors-and-would-be-pastors-2-timothy-215. This is from Wallace’s article entitled “Crisis of the Word or A Message to Pastors and Would-Be Pastors (2 Timothy 2:15).”
[3] Wallace, ibid.
[4] Lincoln’s quote, Downloaded: Saturday, July 24, 2021. From: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/542894930055449135/.