"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 4
Yesterday: We Serve God Looking for His Approval
“Approved unto God.”
All believers go through God’s “approval process.” It takes time, and it can be painful, but in the end, it is worth the time and effort.
Today: We Are Striving To Be “Approved Workman”
“A workman.”
In the Scriptures, a workman is “a laborer.” This is translated from a word that means “a workman, a laborer… usually, one who works for hire especially an agricultural worker”[1] (Thayer). We who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ are “workers.” We need to remember this so that we don’t end up with the big head. If we are not careful, our pride will hurt those we are called to serve by lording it over them. There is no place for this in our work or in the church.
“A workman is not the owner, the boss, or the supervisor. A workman is the one who works. A workman does not make his own decisions about when and where he works. A workman does what he is told to do – work!”[2] (V. Davis).
What does the New Testament tell us about laborers/workers?
Not only are we workers in God’s harvest, but He tells us to pray for more laborers.
“Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
The Lord compares His Kingdom to a man hiring laborers
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1-2).
“So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the one, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first” (Matthew 20:8).
Jesus warns believers to look out for evil, deceitful workers of iniquity.
“But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision” (Philippians 2:3).
A worthy workman is worth their pay. Jesus told His disciples to,
“Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat” (Matthew 10:9-10).
Our church takes care of the needs of its pastor the same reason Jesus told His disciples.
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the Word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Unfairly unpaid laborers have God’s attention. We need to take our grievances to Him.
“Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (James 5:4).
Encouragement for all pastors and ministers of God. We are called and enabled by Him.
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
We are careful about what we do in ministry.
“Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses…” (2 Corinthians 6:3-4).
We labor in the Word so that we might speak for God.
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (1 Timothy 4:6).
“Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
We must never forget that we are laborers together with God.
“For we are laborers [sunergós] together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
God reminds all workers,
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13).
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17).
Come back tomorrow as we think about a workman who is not ashamed of their work.
Quote: Jesus said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor” (John 12:26).
[1] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Davis’s quote, Downloaded: July 22, 2021. From: https://www.tribstar.com/news/lifestyles/stories-of-our-faith-study-to-show-thyself-approved-unto-god/article.