One can become so obsessed with the things on the sidelines, losing sight of what is really important.

For example: we become so obsessed with the clothes we wear to church that we forget why we go to church. We miss the point.

We can become so obsessed with the cars we drive or the houses we live in that we completely forget why we are on earth. We are here firstly to glorify God and to be his hands and feet. We miss the point.

In the same way I can become so obsessed with my understanding of the words in the Bible that I totally forget to allow the Word to change me so that I can move closer to God.

Therefore, this warning: ¹⁴Remind your people of these great facts, and command them in the name of the Lord not to argue over unimportant things. Such arguments are confusing and useless and even harmful. (TLB)

That’s simply put. Don’t argue. It’s strange, no, shocking. Get a group of Christians together and before long they are arguing about who understands the Word of God better than the other.

What a waste of time. Nobody can win this argument. On the contrary, people find it hilarious and the damage is done.

People do not understand that the Word of God is inspired by God. It is a Divine Word. Remember, God is on an entirely higher level than us people. We will never completely understand God. If we could have understood everything about God, we would’ve been on the same level as God. Then we become god too. And that would never work.

For God to remain God there is something that we will never understand.

The same is true of God’s Word. If God’s Word were a human book, people would probably have interpreted and clarified it within 100 years after Christ already. But mankind still hasn’t succeeded in doing so.

We must understand our shortcomings. We must understand that we approach a Divinely inspired Word with our human brains. It’s like going to the battlefront armed with a slingshot and some marbles.

That’s why there will be a few interpretations of the Word of God. There are so many variables influencing my interpretation. It would be so stupid to argue that I have the only true understanding of these words. No, even worse: It causes damage. People on the outside laugh at us.

Do you know what is important? That we believe that Jesus has died for our sin and that I will go to heaven because of his unselfish deed. That is enough.

Let’s give one another space to see things differently. I know it is easier when we all see and believe exactly the same things. It is more difficult to sit around the table when we look at the same picture from different angles. But that’s what Jesus would’ve done.

This is a serious warning. Do not waste words.

Scripture
2 Tim 2:14-19

Reflection
Do you sometimes insist on your words?
Does it bring good or not so good?
Where do you have to let go a little?

Prayer
ord, please keep me from the temptation to argue unnecessarily about the meaning of words. Please remind me that You want us to live with one another in love and peace. Amen.