Equipped for Every Good Work

by Edwin Crozier

Paul says the God-breathed Scriptures profit us by teaching us, reproving us, correcting us, and training us for righteousness. What incredible benefits the sacred writings bring to us. He goes on to say that through this teaching, reproving, correcting, and training, the Scriptures make us complete and equipped for every good work.

Certainly, “man of God” in this passage may refer specifically to God’s messenger. The Old Testament used the phrase that way. For instance, in I Samuel 9:6-10, Samuel was referred to as “a man of God.” It specifically meant he was a prophet. Paul may be referring specifically to Timothy as the messenger, the preacher, the evangelist. The Scripture will equip him as the messenger for every good work. But even if Paul only directly means the Scripture is all Timothy needs to do his work, doesn’t that still indirectly mean all he needs to teach everyone else in the congregation is that their work is the Scripture? Doesn’t that still mean all anyone else needs to know is that their good work is Scripture?

Whether directly or indirectly, Paul makes the point for all of us, no matter our role in the Lord’s church: we are equipped for every good work by Scripture.

Think about what that means. If I can’t find equipping for the good work in the Scripture, then no matter how much I like the work, it isn’t a good work.

Also recognize that Scripture equips. It doesn’t say what isn’t in Scripture equips. Paul doesn’t say we are just naturally equipped for every good work, but if Scripture prohibits something, then don’t do that. It says we look to Scripture for equipping to know whether something is a good work. Again, if we can’t find the equipping, it isn’t a good work.

And we are to devote ourselves to good works. Which means we need to devote ourselves to Scripture so we may know what good works God has called us to do and how to do them.
Stay in the Word. Be equipped. Be devoted to God’s good works.