Focus On What's Important

II Timothy 2:15-16

It is easy to live life distracted. There is constantly something vying for our attention. There are always chores that need to be done, people that need talking to, places to go, and, of course, social media posts to read. If we are not careful, we find out that life has passed us by, and we did nothing meaningful with it. Time lost can never be regained. Every moment that passes us by is gone forever. So, how do we make the most of our time? How do we prioritize what is important and spend time pursuing that?

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“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”

II Timothy 2:15-16

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I have heard people get upset because the King James version says "Study to shew thyself approved..." and other translations say "Be diligent to present yourself approved...". There are times that I disagree with different translations, but this is not one of them. The Greek word translated "Study" or "Be diligent" literally means to "Give diligence to", "labor", or "to exert one's self " at a task. We are told to exert ourselves to be approved to God. How do we do that? By rightly dividing the Word of truth. The word "rightly divide" means "to dissect". When we dissect something, we do so by studying it. The Word of God is to be studied carefully and intentionally.

In the time that we live, studying God's Word has never been easier. There are really good Bible programs that can be purchased for computers. There are also many free programs and websites that will help you. Streaming services make messages available any time a person finds it convenient, and there is no purchase necessary. One of my favorite websites is www.blueletterbible.org. I can look at words in Greek and Hebrew, hear them pronounced, and look at resources to help me better understand their meaning. I often use it alongside Logos (a Bible program that I spent a lot of money on) because it transliterates the words (puts them in the English alphabet, rather than the Hebrew or Greek alphabet). Since I have never taken Greek or Hebrew, this helps me out a lot!

I also like the "One Place" app. I can listen to messages any time I want from many of my favorite pastors. Then, there is also YouTube.com. There are many messages, interviews, and teachings from good Bible teachers and preachers on there as well. The point is, instead of watching those cat videos, or pointless pranks, we have access to so much knowledge. We can spend time studying. We must also remember, there is a need to spend time in prayer. All the knowledge in the world is pointless if we are not in communion with God.

Finally, a word of warning. Just as there are books that have no business being read, there are websites that have no business being visited. There are websites that will tell you anything that you want to hear. This does not mean that what they publish is Biblical. We need to be like the Bereans, of whom Luke wrote: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Also, John wrote, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). It would surprise many if they knew some of the crazy ideas that are on the internet. Ideas that are blamed on the Bible, but that are easily refuted with the Bible. Sadly, just like people followed Jim Jones or David Koresh, many follow these internet preachers as well. Be careful where you get your information from.

Father, help us to study Your Word diligently and faithfully. Give us discernment as we study. Let us be led by Your Spirit as we study Your Word. Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26), let it be so.