The Scriptures Equip Us for Every Good Work

Note from today’s Bible reading: 2 Timothy 3-4

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he impressed upon him (and us) the fact that the Scriptures are from God and contain His actual words. He wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Because the Bible is from God, it is “profitable” for us. It teaches us what is true. It reproves us when we are wrong. It corrects us by getting us back on track. It trains us to do what is right.

Since the word of God is able to do all of this, it will have an impact on us if we will use it properly. Paul continued, “So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). The word “adequate” means complete or perfect. When we take the Scriptures and use them as God intended, we lack nothing that we need to please Him.

God expects us to be engaged in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14), and we should have a desire to carry them out. However, we cannot simply do whatever we think is good and expect God to be pleased. Through His word, we are “equipped for every good work.” This means that if the work we want to do cannot be found in the Scriptures, we cannot call it a “good work.”

So remember that the Scriptures equip us for every good work. We should not merely assume that what we want to do will please the Lord. Instead, let us look to His word and do what He authorizes us to do.