Rightly Handling the Word

Have you discovered how easy it is to use the Bible as a tool to prove we are right and someone else is wrong?

You have probably seen or even been part of discussions where verses are quoted with the sole purpose of winning an argument.

It is something we have all done at times, probably, but have you ever stopped to think: Is this the way God intends for me to approach His Word?

Recently, I heard a conversation online that really got me thinking. The speaker talked about how often we go to the Bible, not with an open mind or a loving heart, but to confirm our own opinions and beliefs. Rather than seeking to understand God’s will, we look for verses that support our stance and challenge others.

What does the Bible say? "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

What does it mean to “rightly handle the word of truth”?  Does it mean using Scripture to prove we are right? Or is there a deeper, more humble way to approach God’s Word?

When we use the Bible simply to "win" an argument, we risk missing the heart of its message. Approaching the Bible with the intent of proving others wrong can lead to pride. More importantly it could lead to someone wanting nothing to do with the God we claim to serve.

Jesus warned against a judgmental attitude. He urges us to look at our own lives before pointing out the flaws of others!

I love The Message version: “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.” Matthew 7:1-5 The Message

If we use Scripture to criticize others while ignoring its call for our own personal growth, we are misusing it.

Ultimately, knowledge without love is meaningless! Paul spells it out: “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV

Even when we are right, if our hearts are not motivated by love, we gain nothing; we are nothing; we have no heavenly influence.

So, how can we shift our mindset and study Scripture in a way that honors God’s purpose for His Word?

Firstly, we should seek God’s guidance. Begin each Bible study with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13 ESV

Secondly, ask God to show you areas in your life where you need to grow and transform. The Bible is not just a book of facts to be memorized, but a living and active Word that can pierce our hearts and change us! Can somebody say amen!

Ephesians 4:15 urges us to speak the truth in love. This means using Scripture to encourage, reconcile, and restore, rather than to condemn.

Jesus showed us the perfect example when He used Scripture to offer hope and transformation, not condemnation. Christ did not use His knowledge to put others down, but to lift them up and draw them closer to the Father.

Ultimately, the Bible is a gift from God, meant to draw us closer to Him and help us become more like Christ. When we study it with humility, love, and a desire to grow, we honor its true purpose.

The next time you open God’s Word, ask yourself: Am I seeking to prove myself right, or am I seeking to be transformed by His truth?

Approach the Bible with a desire to be transformed, not just informed.

by Jeanette Stark – Friday, January 17, 2025