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This verse means that one should earnestly endeavor, strive with all his might, to be approved unto God (not to his fellowmen). This will involve study as we think of it, too. For one cannot be
approved unless he has learned the will of God. That only can be learned from the Word of God.
This verse is also directed to workmen, those that are created unto good works (Eph 2:10). It is not for the unbeliever. It is not for the slothful servant who loafs on the job and does as he wills
. Such will certainly be ashamed in that day. Try looking up the word ashamed and note in what contexts it is used and who will be ashamed.
 Now we come to the gist of our message. It is rightly dividing. To do this, one must
know what the differences may be. Generalities are not enough for this dividing. The saleslady in the picture knows enough to divide between the apples and the
potatoes. She is not going to mix the melons and the pumpkins. And she knows the difference between eggs and eggplant. But since they are under the general title of
produce, why bother to make any division? Or are we asking foolish questions?
One point we must make is this; in rightly dividing, we do not just learn the things that differ and then separate them and throw them to the four winds. In the picture,
things are not only rightly divided, but each is put in a neat pile apart form the other times. So should we do in study of the
Word of God. Then when we collect all we can find of one category, we are able to come to a right conclusion. This is good logic.
Furthermore, not only does the saleslady rightly divide the produce, but the customer evidently knows she wants. She
rightly divides, too. So in our testimony, we need to use right division as well as in our won study. We cannot give a clear witness without it. We only confuse people.
Beware of substitutes. We cannot offer law in the stead of grace. We cannot offer the kingdom instead of the church. We
cannot proclaim water baptism to take the place of an identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
from Truth for Today Archives
August 1964-July1975, page 156, Vol.20,#3.
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Right Division - Explained
