2 Timothy 2:14-26 - A Worker Approved To God And Not Ashamed
14 Remind men of these things. Charge them before God to avoid idle arguments which do no one any good and only bring destruction on those who listen to them. 15 Do your best to win God's approval as a workman who has nothing to be ashamed of, but rightly shapes the message of truth. 16 Leave worldly, empty phrases alone, for they lead people deeper and deeper into godlessness, 17 and their teaching spreads like a cancer; men like Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have missed the truth and say that the resurrection has taken place already, thus undermining people's faith. 19 Yet God's solid foundation stands unshaken, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who belong to him," and "Everyone who uses the name of the Lord must give up evil."
20 In any large house there are not only gold and silver dishes but also wooden and earthen ones, some for great occasions and some for ordinary use. 21 So if a man will cleanse himself from these things, he will be put to great uses, consecrated and used by the master of the house himself, and ready for any good use.
22 Fly from the cravings of youth, and go in pursuit of uprightness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Avoid foolish, crude speculations; you know they only lead to quarrels, 24 and a slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but treat everyone kindly; he must be persuasive and unresentful, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness; for God may possibly let them repent and acknowledge the truth, 26 and they may yet return to their senses and escape from the toils of the devil, who has caught them to make them do his will.