Study to Show Thyself Approved!

How many of you recognized the Scripture listed in the title of this post?  It comes from 2 Timothy 2:15.
I would like to break it down a little bit for you.

Let's start with STUDY...
The Greek word for study is spoudazō, which is pronounced, spü-dä'-zō which means --
1) to hasten, make haste (this ultimately means to hurry, or to cause to hurry. It also means to move at a fast speed.)

2) to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence (use of mental or physical energy, hard work; a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

TO SHOW (SHEW)...
The Greek word for to shew is paristēmi, which is pronounced, pä-rē'-stā-mē which means --
1) to place beside or near
a) to set at hand
    1) to present
    2) to proffer
    3) to provide
    4) to place a person or thing at one's disposal
    5) to present a person for another to see and question
    6) to present or show
    7) to bring to, bring near
    8) metaph. i.e to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy
b) to present (show) by argument, to prove

THYSELF...
The Greek word of thyself is seautou, which is pronounced, se-au-tü' which means --
1) thyself, thee (Yourself. Used as the reflexive or emphatic form of thee or thou.)

APPROVED...
The Greek word for approved is dokimos, which is pronounced, do'-kē-mos which means --
1) accepted, particularly of coins and money.
2) accepted, pleasing, acceptable
Check out this statement on dokimos.

"In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft, and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens to stop the practice of whittling down the coins then in circulation. But some money-changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money; they were men of honour who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. Such men were called dokimos, and this word is used here for the Christian as he is to be seen by the world." (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Romans: God's Glory, p. 18.)

We can't stop here!  There is more to the Scripture and if we stop right here we will be missing the most important component of this verse.  Let's continue on...
UNTO GOD...
The Greek word for unto God is theos, which is pronounced, the-o's which means --

1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
    a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
    b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
    c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
    a) refers to the things of God
    b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
    a) God's representative or viceregent

1) of magistrates and judges

A WORKMAN...
The Greek word for a workman is ergatēs, which is pronounced, er-gä'-tās which means...
1) a workman, a labourer
    a) usually one who works for hire esp. an agricultural worker
2) one who does, a worker, perpetrator

THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED...
The Greek word for this statement is anepaischyntos, which is pronounced, ä-ne-pī's-khün-tos which means --
1) having no cause to be ashamed

RIGHTLY DIVIDING...
The Greek word for rightly dividing is orthotomeō, which is pronounced, or-tho-to-me'-ō which means --
1) to cut straight, to cut straight ways
    a) to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equiv. to doing right
2) to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly

THE WORD...
The Greek word for the Word is one many people are familiar with and it is logos, which is pronounced, lo'-gos which means --
1) of speech
    a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
    b) what someone has said

1) a word
2) the sayings of God
3) decree, mandate or order
4) of the moral precepts given by God
5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets
6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim
    c) discourse

1) the act of speaking, speech
2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
3) a kind or style of speaking
4) a continuous speaking discourse - instruction
    d) doctrine, teaching
    e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative
    f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter in dispute, case, suit at law
    g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed

2) its use as respect to the MIND alone
    a) reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating
    b) account, i.e. regard, consideration
    c) account, i.e. reckoning, score
    d) account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
    e) relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation

1) reason would
    f) reason, cause, ground

3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

Note: A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe.

OF TRUTH...
The Greek word for of truth is alētheia, which is pronounced, ä-lā'-thā-ä which means --
1) objectively
    a) what is true in any matter under consideration

1) truly, in truth, according to truth
2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
    b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth

1) in the greatest latitude
2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
    c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians

2) subjectively
    a) truth as a personal excellence

1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit

Study to show thyself approved unto God, v. 15.

Observe, The care of ministers must be to approve themselves unto God, to be accepted of him, and to show that they are so approved unto God. In order thereunto, there must be constant care and industry:

Study to show thyself such a one, a workman that needs not be ashamed. Ministers must be workmen; they have work to do, and they must take pains in it. Workmen that are unskilful, or unfaithful, or lazy, have need to be ashamed; but those who mind their business, and keep to their work, are workmen that need not be ashamed.

And what is their work? It is rightly to divide the word of truth. Not to invent a new gospel, but rightly to divide the gospel that is committed to their trust. To speak terror to those to whom terror belongs, comfort to whom comfort; to give every one his portion in due season, Mt. 24:45.

Observe here, 1. The word which ministers preach is the word of truth, for the author of it is the God of truth. 2. It requires great wisdom, study, and care, to divide this word of truth rightly; Timothy must study in order to do this well. And we as pastors, elders, and lay leaders as well as ALL Christians, should study in order to preach the Word to the lost.

Go into all the world preaching the gospel to every creature!

The title of this post is "Study to show thyself approved!" but that does not even come close to what we need to know.  The next key words are UNTO GOD!  Too many people will study to show themselves approved by the world.  That is easy to do.  But as Christians, our goal is NOT to be approved by the world but UNTO GOD!  The time is at hand.  Hasten or hurry to do the hard work set before you. Be prepared to present yourself to others for them to see and to ask you questions.  Will others see you as a counterfeit Christian or will they see you as a person of honor and integrity? Are you doing the work on a day to day basis so that you will not be ashamed?  Will others see you as a laborer or as a lazy person?  Will the evidence of what you have done back up your claims as a Christian?  Are you able to properly teach the Word of God?  Are you able to tell others about the Word?  Do you know who Jesus is and are you able to share Him with others?

In order to properly reach others for Christ, we must study to show ourselves approved unto God!  Use this day to decide to give your life fully to Him who Saves, and go make a difference in the lives of others!