Deeper Life #189

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

—2 Timothy 2:16

PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY NOT TO enter into controversy. And Paul was the arch-controversialist himself! Paul spent many of his days in controversy. Two solid years of his life were spent in the school of Tyrannus, controverting and arguing; and yet he says to Timothy, “The servant of the Lord must not strive” (2 Timothy 2:24).

Have you read of Paul’s method of arguing? Paul could put himself with amazing tenderness into the place of the person he was disputing. The reason Paul tells Timothy not to argue—and the reason he tells us not to argue—is that we tend to argue from our own point of view. We argue, not for the truth’s sake, but to prove we are right.

God grant that we may learn to take heed, lest we get switched off onto arguing instead of teaching the truth. Are you a worker for God who is likely turned aside by battling for the faith? Then let me read you some words that I have jotted down in my Bible beside this text: “Oh, the unmitigated curse of controversy!”

Prayer Thought: Deliver me, dear Lord, from arguing the gospel. Help me to share Your truth, not my opinions.

SUGGESTED READING: 2 Timothy 2:19–22