Fri/Sat/Sun—July 7–9•Competent and Qualified People Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4–6) In his final letter to his spiritual son Timothy, the apostle Paul encouraged the younger disciple maker to pass on the gospel “to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (see 2 Timothy 2:2). For years, that word qualified threw me for a loop. Our culture defines that word in terms of an official recognition for a person’s education, like passing a test and receiving a diploma. Or it applies that term to training that prepares a person to perform a specific task. The Greek wording in this passage has a very different meaning. That word translated qualified simply means able or sufficient. The passage written above explains that concept in a different way. It describes a confidence in ministry that comes from knowing that our competence doesn’t come from human skill, but rather it grows from our relationship with God. That means every man who is willing to be faithful and committed to God and to His Word can be competent and qualified in ministry. Ask any athletic coach—would you rather have a highly skilled player who’s unpredictable, or an average skilled, competent player that you know you can count on? I guarantee, any coach will tell you, “Give me the average guy who’s dependable.” That’s the kind of guy that God qualifies. He’s looking for ordinary men who will pursue Him faithfully, allowing Him to make them competent ministers of His covenant. MIMBS 1 In your own words, how would you explain the difference between our cultural view of the term qualified, and God’s view as revealed in today’s Scripture passages? Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:5–8:40, Acts 25:1–27:20, Psalm 5:1–7:17, Proverbs 18:19–22 FOR YOUR SMALL GROUP July 1–9 Outline the principle of spiritual multiplication revealed in 2 Timothy 2:2. ■ If you were explaining this to a new believer, how would you define the words entrust and reliable (in the NIV—synonyms like commit and faithful in other versions)? 18
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