II Timothy 2:14-16
“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”
It is apparent from Paul’s instruct to Timothy that people in the church were getting into arguments about genealogies, meanings of words, and technicalities about the law of Moses. Paul refers to these arguments as ungodliness. Those arguing probably felt that they were more righteous than anyone else, but Paul calls it ungodliness. Why? Because of what it was producing: disorder and disunity. If it was producing disorder and disunity within the congregation, it was not producing an environment for growth.
The Apostle Paul’s advice in verse 16 is to “shun” those things. Shunning denotes walking away from someone or something and turning one’s back on it. These kinds of arguments do not produce the right kinds of fruit. Often the message of profane and idle babblings may spread quickly and be popular. However, they can be like cancer that spreads fast and captures an audience. To the contrary, Romans 14:17 says the Kingdom of God is represented by “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Serving God with a heart for His righteousness, peace and joy is the kind of service that is acceptable in His sight and will be approved by men.
In II Timothy 2:20 – 21, a reference is made to a great house, “..not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor…”. The Apostle Paul goes on to state, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” This cleansing is not just something God does for us as we sit passively. This is a self-cleansing for service that goes beyond a general cleansing for sin.
