Paul wrote to Timothy to give him instruction and encouragement. This morning as I read the passage in 2 Timothy, I am reminded that we cannot always rely on others to do the work for us. Yes, delegating and leading others to their path are important, but the work that God has for us is something for us and we are to do that work for Him. And it is not right for us to boast about the work done or place ourselves above others for doing the work of God, for it is the work we are tasked with and completing is the job. But, we also have to be mindful that we are to present ourselves to God as one that has done the work and done it for His glory.
“15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
The passage where this verse is in my ESV bible is titled, “A Worker Approved by God”. Notice the passage first part, and how Paul is explaining to Timothy to “do your best” as “one approved”. How is it that we are approved, we have done the work for God and His glory. Whether or not we are fully successful as we see it is not what we are working to achieve. We are doing things for God and His glory and have to remember that His plan is more complex that we can ever imagine. Our completion of the work and even failure in the completion may be exactly the plan all along. We are to do the work and allow God to do His work. We are to act in God’s interest and not our own.
When we have worked to do the work of God so as to not be ashamed of the work, then we can present ourselves as approved to God. It is now okay to say to God, “I did your work, and I know that your will be done.” This is the acknowledgment of His glory and that all we are working to accomplish is for Him.
When you are out there doing work, who are you working for? Are you looking out for yourself and boasting about all of that work? What if you were to simply do the work of God and regardless of the outcome know that you can present yourself to Him as approved and not ashamed?
Trevor's Thoughts 