A Canker

II Timothy 2:14-18

Any one who knows me knows that I am super opinionated and super vocal. Neither of these are necessarily bad in and of themselves. However, when they are put together they have often gotten me into hot water. Being that I am a pastor, I have learned the hard way many times that I cannot say what I think or feel to church members. While I believe they genuinely want to be supportive of their pastor, when they find out that he is imperfect and has real struggles, it causes their faith to waver. Oh the stories I could tell!

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 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. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

II Timothy 2:14-18

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As I was reading through 1st and 2nd Timothy, I was struck by how many times Paul told Timothy to not argue about unimportant things. It would appear that Timothy had a problem with arguing. This does not mean that Timothy was wrong in what he was saying, but rather that it did not amount to anything from a spiritual standpoint. In light of heaven, these things were unimportant and not worth the potential division they may cause.

Rather, Paul tells Timothy to "study". The word translated "study" in the King James Version actually means "to be diligent". So, "be diligent to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (dissecting) the word of truth". If we are being diligent about rightly dividing the word of truth, then we are studying. Paul was telling Timothy that this was more profitable than winning an argument, even if he convinced the other party of his position.

He then tells Timothy to stay away from this evil and worthless speaking. The reason is that they spread ungodliness. They are like dandelions. When you try to pull them up by the root, you spread the seed. He says that these kinds of conversations "increase unto more ungodliness".

Finally, he says that these kinds of arguments eat away as a canker. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a canker is a spreading sore that eats. They also tell that is traces its name back to the Latin word "cancer" which means crab and also a malignant tumor. That is a lot to take in.

We call ulcers in our mouth "canker sores" and they are painful. A crab is a scavenger. They will gladly climb up on a dead fish and eat away at it. Then there is the tumor. We all know of people who have suffered from cancer, and others who have died because of this dreaded disease. So, when Paul uses this vivid language, it helps us understand how much we should avoid these conversations altogether.

Father, help me to resist the temptation to argue about things that do not further your kingdom and work. The temptation to engage in these conversations is strong for many of us. I pray that you would help me to resist the temptation and that your name would be glorified.