God’s Approved Worker
How to rightly handle the Word of truth
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Do 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)
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I like the connection Paul makes here.
Specifically, the connection between being an approved worker and the Word of God.
So often I think about being God’s approved worker as someone who does all the things well. Does all the ministry work, all the prayer work, all the people & relationships work, all the Great Commission work …
Yet, I sometimes miss how crucial it is to be filled with the Word.
There is a lot of work involved in handling God’s Word rightly.
But it doesn’t feel like the same outward work of building people & ministries. It, somehow, feels less valuable because I’m allowing God to work on me instead of going out and working for God.
Maybe I’m the only one, but maybe I’m not.
So, how do I rightly handle the word of truth?
One way is by hiding God’s Word in my heart so I might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:105).
Another way?
Always making sure to study the Scriptures in the proper context. So much of the evil twisting that happens around the Word of God is because people interpret Scripture according to their own thoughts instead of the context of what the Author intended.
I’m not interested in “what I think about that verse.” I’m interested in what God thinks about that verse.
My favorite term for proper study of the Bible is hermeneutics.
i.e., letting the Bible interpret the Bible.
With the Holy Spirit guiding me, I can be confident in allowing God’s Word to interpret God’s Word today.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
