¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ¹⁶ But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,¹⁸ who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹ But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

²² So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

REFLECTION

1. Slowly read these verses (esp. 22-26) and let the message saturate your heart and mind.  Imagine Paul is sitting beside you, speaking these words to you directly.  How do you feel when you hear them?  What part of the passage resonates most with you?  Why? 
2. Would the “evil desires of youth” seem a little patronizing?  Or you just like to have “foolish and stupid arguments”, or there is still bitterness in you that you get into “quarrels” a lot?  Perhaps Christian maturity such as “be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” seems impossible or defeating?  Maybe with some people you’ve lost hope that they might “come to their senses”?
3. Continue to sit in silence and explore what God might want you to do with this instruction.  How are you to live it out today? This week? This month?

Proverbs for Today 24:23-26

²³ These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
²⁴ Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
    will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
²⁵ but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ Whoever gives an honest answer
    kisses the lips.