Handling It Correctly

2 Tim 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

In 1992 I visited Chicago and began to receive training from Samuel Lee. He told me to read the Bible four times with underlining and send it to him. So did I. He encouraged me to read the entire Bible twice a year in order to master the Bible. After the training was over it has been hard to maintain the same degree of diligence. For a while I was able to read the entire Bible at least once a year. It has been difficult to keep up with it because my mind is often occupied with other matters. I realize and repent that my message is not full of the inspiration from the Bible. Although we have received a calling to handle the word of truth for our life, we cannot do so without good foundation. When our foundation is strong, we not only grow, but also become useful to him.

The 2012 Olympic Games in London was full of dramas. Although there were so many athletes with many skills, the winners were often those who had good foundation. I witnessed it when I watched the Olympic Archery. The competition of two athletes was furious and their scores were too close to determine a winner. In the end, however, the archer with the better foundation became the winner. During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Yu-Na Kim got the gold medal in the women’s figure skating – the flower of Winter Olympic Games. As I compared her performance with that of Mao Asada, I realized that Yu-Na Kim focused on the trainings that strengthened foundation. On the other hand Asada fired her coaches who emphasized foundation – basic skills. As they were laid off they gave her warnings that she would regret if she would ignore foundation. As they predicted, Yu-Na Kim cumulated good score by performing well basic skills. On the other hand, Asada heavily depended on triple axel for the higher score, but ended up cumulating the lower score than Yu-Na Kim.

I visited dental office many times. Nonetheless I still learn how to brush my teeth. Although I brushed hard my teeth, dental plaque formed around the teeth and gums and produced gingivitis. Since it was hard to brush the last molar tooth, it decayed and caused toothache. It had to be replaced by implant. Despite the sufferings I have not brushed my teeth well. So I still learn how to brush my teeth. This is supposed to be mastered before entering elementary school. I suffer, since I had no foundation in brushing my teeth. Likewise it is important to build foundation. Correctly handling the word of God is the foundation for the life of shepherd. Shepherd must be able to observe right, understand deep, analyze well, and apply properly the word of God. This determines the outcome of his ministry.

Why should shepherd correctly handle the word of God? It is a matter of life and death. The word of God gives life to those who hear and believe. Ignorant and rebellious sinners repent and are born again as a child of God when they hear the word of God that is correctly handled. On the other hand when the word of God is incorrectly handled it can harm people. At the time of Jesus the Pharisees incorrectly handled the word of God and only burdened his people. Instead of providing freedom and life, their teachings let the word of God burden and oppress his people. They only emphasized the glory of the Christ (Messiah in Hebrew) and failed to convey his sufferings that were revealed by God. As a result, the Pharisees and teachers of the law persuaded his people to reject and crucify Jesus who came as the Christ. Through the God’s punishment they lost their country in AD 70 and wandered around the world for 2000 years. Because they incorrectly handled the word of God they ruined not only themselves, but also their people and country. Correctly handling the word of God makes is so important.

How can we correctly handle the word of God? Since it is not easy to handle correctly the word of God one has to undergo training. One way is to love God and his word. I watched the final of the Women’s World Cup. 17 years old Min-Ji Yeo kicked a golden ball during the final contest – five kicks for each team. At her turn she handled the ball preciously and kissed it before she kicked it. She loved the ball, which inspired me to love God’s word likewise. If we love God’s word and his people as she loves the ball we can correctly handle the word of God. As a bible teacher our true delight should reside in God and his word.

Pondering the word of God only with our brain does not help us to correctly handle it. One has to struggle to live up to it. He has to obey it and experience its truth. Let’s go back to 2 Tim 2:15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Not only should we correctly handle the word of God, but also we should do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed. We shepherds are most ashamed when our sins are exposed. My filthy life disappoints sheep and causes them to sin. The first mountaineer who climbed the Mount Everest is Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand. There was an episode. During the climb toward the highest Tenzing Norgay of Sherpa was ahead of Edmund Hillary. When Hillary arrived near the highest, Tenzing Norgay had waited for him. When Tenzing asked Edmund to go ahead and be the first, Edmund told Tenzing of Nepal, ”This is your country. You must be the first.” When both reached the top, he asked Tenzing to take a pose, took his picture, and sent it out. The newspaper around the world showed a picture of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, not Sir Edmund Hillary. He did not allow any of his pictures taken.

Later Queen Elizabeth invited Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and offered him the Knightship. She asked, “Why did you send Sherpa Tenzing’s photo instead of yours?” Then Hillary answered, “My mount to conquer is not the Everest Mount, but myself.” Afterwards he climbed 10 others peaks of Himalaya Mountains and South Pole. Every year he visited Sherpa villages, built hospitals and schools. He thanks the Sherpa tribe for helping him to get the glory and worked for them. In total he visited them 120 times and worked for them with thanksgiving heart. That’s true. When we conquer ourselves, we will be the workman without shame. For this goal we must diligently teach ourselves with the word of God. The word of God combined with my experience has power. Because of personal experience we can deliver the word of God with conviction and confidence. God approves such workman. The disqualified workman is the shepherd who only renders lip service. He is the shepherd who demands others, but cannot prove himself. The false prophets at the time of Jesus handled the word of God for their own greed or to appease people. They confused the people with the word of God.

Handling the word of God is a blessing. The word of God testifies to Jesus Christ. When Satan tested Jesus, Jesus won the victory by handling correctly the word of God like a sword. Through his word people were born again and experienced God’s presence. Jesus not only taught the word of God excellently, but also practiced it faithfully. By handling correctly this word of truth and word of life, I pray that we give freedom to those who are oppressed, heal those who are wounded and strengthen the weak.