2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Studying is very key to excelling in any area of life. Anyone who is an expert in any field has done a lot of studying. Our undertakings in life are determined by our understanding of things. And understanding comes when we engage in studying. There is a difference between learning and studying. Learning refers to an increase in knowledge, being informed, or hearing of something but studying goes beyond that. When it comes to studying, we see words like meditate, reflect, ponder and think deeply. Studying involves devoting time and attention to something and doing a detailed analysis to arrive at a conclusion.
So, for instance, if you asked someone who has learned about cars, they may tell you different brands of cars they know or how they would like a particular car because it looks nice. The one who has studied cars would tell you the anatomy of a car and how things work in it. It reminds me of the difference between hearing and listening.
In hearing, your ears are active but in listening, your mind is.
Listening entails understanding what you’re hearing, that is processing what you’re hearing to make meaning out of it. That’s why the Bible says that the one who hears and puts into practice the Word is blessed. So it’s one thing to hear and it’s another thing to listen. Until you understand, you can’t put it into practice. In the same vein, it’s one thing to read and another to study.
In reading, you’re fishing for information while in studying you are fishing for revelation. What you see while studying is usually deeper than just reading.
2 Timothy 3:7 says, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” So a person can be so learned and yet do things in a way that’s not right because there’s no understanding of what they know and have information about. In Joshua 1:8, we are told not to learn but meditate on the word day and night. In the opening scripture, we are to study to show ourselves approved. In other versions, that scripture begins with phrases like, do your best, make every effort, and be diligent. This means studying is hard work. The reason why exploits are done by a few people is that not many are willing to go the extra mile. We want others to do the work for us and that is why many are running to men of God concerning every problem they have. Yes, we need them, but there are things God expects us to be able to handle. We want someone to hear from God for us and won’t work on developing our spirits to hear from him.
Why study? We must study to have a reason for our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. Another version puts it this way: Be ready to give a logical defense for what you believe. The Bible says even the demons believe and tremble so it’s not enough to just believe. If you just believe in God without strong reasons that come from the scriptures and personal encounters, you can easily be thrown off. Many Christians are a step away from becoming atheists because if they do meet one who refutes all their beliefs with seemingly logical arguments, they’d have nothing to say. If you do something without a reason, you can be easily tossed to and fro and carried about by any kind of doctrine as Ephesians 4:14 puts it.
We must study so that we are not deceived by anyone and are firmly rooted in what we believe. While unbelievers are gathering evidence and points to argue about the existence of God, many Christians are not studying the Word to fish out reasons against their stance. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are ambassadors of Christ and there is no way you can represent a Kingdom you have little or no information about. Matthew 28:19 Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: How do we teach something we are not well-versed in?
We must also study to serve God better. When you get to discover truths in God’s word about who He is through studying, you better relate with Him and live the way He desires. We must study to teach others. The scripture mentions in Hebrews 5:12 that the people had been believers for too long that they were supposed to be teaching others by now. God is relying on us to tell the world about him but if we know nothing about him, we’d have nothing to say.
We must also study to know what we have in Christ and be transformed. Since, Christ came for us to be changed from sinful nature to God’s image, studying God’s Word would give us insight into who we are and what we have so that because we now know, we can walk in its reality. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. When Matthew 7:7 says to ask, seek and knock, many people easily ask for things but hardly seek because that’s more difficult compared to just asking. Knowledge and wisdom must be sought after because pearls won’t be thrown before pigs. Matthew 7:6
The Word In Clarity 