Welcome to Day 16 of The Challenge! Our verse to memorize is II Timothy 2:16:
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“But shun profane and vain babblings:
for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
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Renouncing ungodliness appears here in an interesting context. People in the congregation were getting into heated discussions about genealogies, meanings of words, and technicalities of law. Paul called this “ungodliness” (or irreligion) and instructed Timothy to shun such things. The word “shun” means literally to place around or stand around. The picture conveyed by this verb is to go around something so as to keep oneself away from being involved in this type of chatter by deliberately and habitually avoiding it.
Timothy is to show his attitude toward these unholy errors by going around them—to “steer clear”—continually placing himself at a distance from them. Why? Because it is unprofitable for the things of eternity and in fact actually leads to ungodliness! Paul is not talking of idle chitchat or gossip, which can do considerable damage in a church. He is speaking of destructive heresy that perverts divine truth. These brethren had missed the point of God’s way of life, which Paul says is righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. (See Romans 14:27.) Being technically correct about a minor point is not as important as building right relationships through kindness, forgiveness, service, and sensitive concern for others.
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January 16th, 2009 at 6:46 am
This was very insightful and encouraging to read the contex in which Paul was writing.
All Scripture is profitable for us, but without research (studying, rightly dividing, as verse 15 says), we can take anything the wrong way.
It is SO important as we memorize these verses to learn the keys to MEDITATION so that the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us in all truth.
I would love to know who the author of today’s insight is!
January 16th, 2009 at 9:52 am
That was good!! It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs that says that “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (Proverbs 22:3)
Thanks!
January 16th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Thank you so much for for todays thought! This very has been a very convicting verse for me. I have also been thinking about a verse in Ephesians “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but which is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (4:29)
January 16th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Great word, Mike! This was a convicting verse for me, too. I was reminded of it several times today. I would be so embarrassed to count the number of unprofitable words that I say every day that are really just vain babblings. Ouch! What a motivation to pray Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
January 17th, 2009 at 6:49 am
I think back upon the different times that I spent arguing over things that were so insignificant and futile with other people, and the discord or tension that it many times caused. This is something that I need to work on for sure. This brings to mind Proverbs 17:28:
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
January 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I was once challenged with a thought provoking thought that much of what we say is either a blessing or a curse. This thought has served as a continual reminder to contemplate the essence of the message I am conveying in the words I’m speaking.
January 17th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Very true, Chad! That’s a verse I need to mark down and remember.
Josh, I really enjoyed thinking about your thought-provoking thought. Um, I should say, contemplating the essence of the message you conveyed.
Very concisely articulated!
January 18th, 2009 at 12:24 am
As I have been thinking upon this verse and into today’s verse, it has been convicting to think that there have been many times that I have carelessly said something that I should not have and that was unprofitable for those who heard it. It sometimes even damaged a relationship. Such power words hold! I must therefore use them carefully and cautiously, and watch what I say with vigilance! Even more importantly, God is holding me accountable for every word I speak! It is sobering to know that once words are spoken, they are said and either brings life or death to the hearer; and unprofitable and damaging words leave marks that are hard to erase.
I appreciate the reminder, as well as confirmation, that being technically correct about a minor point is not as important as building right relationships. It is one area that I erred in; and had I known this earlier, some relationships might not have been so strained. This is one thing that God showed me on my Journey in ’07. He caused me to see that every Christian is just as important as every member in the body is important, and He convicted me of cutting off people instead of building a good and loving relationship. Learning to have a “perfect” greeting was a very good solution!