Tools to Help Us Become Workers Who Need Not Be Ashamed

When my father passed away, I inherited his collection of tools. Unfortunately, unlike my dad who was a master mechanic and a consummate “Mr. Fix-It,” I don’t think I have a mechanical gene in my body. I can turn a screw or hammer a nail if necessary, but when something needs to be repaired, usually I shrug my shoulders and try to decide which handyman to call.

Some tools, however, I am very familiar with and use extensively. As a writer and editor, my “toolbox” consists of words, sentences, paragraphs and punctuation marks. As I write this, I’m utilizing a tool called a computer, with my fingers tapping out words on a tool known as a keyboard. I often illustrate things I write using images created with another tool I enjoy using – a camera.

 

Some of us might not have skill using devices like hammers, saws, wrenches and screwdrivers, but we use other kinds of tools to accomplish necessary tasks. In our homes we have washing machines and dryers, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, electric garage door openers and water heaters. 

 

Technology has given us an unending parade of tools supposedly to make our lives easier, including smartphones that now have more capacity than many computers had just decades ago. We have tools that can automatically turn lights on and off in our homes, as well as regulate the heat and air conditioning, and machines that can vacuum the floors without our help. Those able to afford it can buy self-driving cars – they just need to get in before the vehicles leave.

 

Whatever activity we can think of, there’s probably a tool to help in getting it done, from the moment we awaken to the second we lay our heads on the pillow to sleep.

 

But how about the spiritual dimension of our lives? What tools do we have for enhancing the quality of our walk with God?

 

One is obvious: the Bible, the Word of God. There’s no better tool for navigating the turbulent seas of right living. It provides timeless guidelines for morality and ethics. It helps establish priorities – to distinguish the important from the urgent, the best from what’s merely good. It gives answers to, “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose in life?” “How can I know God?” “What happens when I die?” “Where can I find true peace and meaning in a chaotic, ever-changing world?”

 

As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Years ago, I wrote a book of workplace meditations, “Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace.” It shows how timeless principles from the Bible apply to the contemporary marketplace in practical ways.

 

Many of these same principles are useful for other areas of life as well – marriage, family, finances, leisure pursuits, our use of time, handling stress, communications, even sports. Especially in dealing with sin and our need for forgiveness. I love how this is expressed in Jeremiah 15:16, “Your words were found and I ate them. And your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart.”

 

The quality of our tools keeps getting better and better. This is true for the Bible and our ability to use it effectively. I can still remember, way back in 1978, when I discovered translations besides the revered King James Version, which dates back to 1611. Even though it has undergone numerous revisions through the years, some of its archaic terminology can challenge the reader.

 

The first modern translation I encountered was the New American Standard, although today we have dozens of accurate translations from which to choose, along with well-considered paraphrases. For someone seriously interested in giving the Bible an honest look, there are no longer any barriers.

 

We have a seemingly unending array of Bibles targeted to different interest groups – such as men, women, married couples, teens, children, business people, folks going through recovery programs, even editions to guide readers through the Bible in a year. Add to this amply footnoted study Bibles, commentaries, concordances, books, dictionaries and maps, and we have countless resources to help in fulfilling the command of 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

 

One tool that’s often overlooked is a systematic approach to memorizing Scripture passages, a way to not only read and think about the Word of God, but also to file it in our spiritual filing cabinets for easy access, especially when a Bible might not be readily available or appropriate to pull out at the moment. 

 

I began using one such plan decades ago, The Navigators’ Topical Memory System, and have been able to retain many of the verses I learned through the years. As David wrote in Psalm 119:9,11, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. I have hidden my word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” 

 

“Hiding” biblical truth in our hearts by memorization dates back to the ancient Israelites, but its value and importance have never gone out of style. It enables us to experience the promise of Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

The Most Under-used, Underappreciated Tool in the Toolbox

Since I’m not a handyman in even the most generous sense of the word, I feel perfectly objective in asking this question: What’s the most important tool in the toolbox? Is it the hammer? The screwdriver? The wrench? The crowbar? The saw? Reminds me of the story about the blind man who picked up the hammer and saw.

My reason for asking isn’t to solicit advice on a do-it-yourself project. I learned the futility of trying to do those kinds of things long ago. No, I’m thinking about an entirely different realm – the spiritual. Because God has entrusted us with a variety of “tools,” but I think there’s one that’s conspicuously under-used, underappreciated and undervalued. 

 

First, let’s look at some of the tools the Lord has put at our disposal. We find a handy list in Ephesians 6:13-20, which describes “the full armor of God.” This includes “the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” the breastplate of righteousness,” “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” the “shield of faith,” the “helmet of salvation,” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” 

 

We could examine each one of these in detail, but then one more “tool” is cited that’s sometimes overlooked in this whole “armor of God” discussion. The apostle Paul gives it the greatest attention in this passage:

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

 

All the other parts of the “full armor of God” seem suited for a proper uniform of one going into battle – a belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet and sword. Most are used for defensive purposes, and the sword for taking the offensive. But prayer, somehow it doesn’t seem to fit on this list. But it should.

 

Some of us might regard prayer as a kind of last resort. When all else fails, pray. But we never see it viewed in that way in the Scriptures. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we’re to “pray without ceasing.” I’m no expert on the original Greek, but I think that means “all the time.” Or as I like to consider it, we’re to maintain a continual attitude of prayer. 

 

Basically, it’s similar to calling someone but never hanging up. We go about our daily activities, and whenever we feel the inclination, pick up the phone, talk a little bit, resume what we were doing, stop and talk some more, and so on. So we can start the day, our first waking moments, with prayer. We can pray while brushing our teeth, shaving, showering, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and driving to work (just don’t lower your head and close your eyes). 

 

We can even pray while we’re in the midst of the most riveting – or boring – meeting we’ve ever been a part of. Who’s to say we can’t? Again, bowing our heads and closing our eyes isn’t necessary. Do you typically bow your head and close your eyes when you talk with your spouse, child, or friend? In God’s point of view, it’s not the posture but the attitude of the heart that matters.

 

And when we pray, it isn’t only asking for stuff, like reading off a grocery list. Actually, that’s only a small part of it. I’ve always like the acronym for prayer: ACTS. It stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Lots of times we’re in a hurry to get to whatever we need or want, but following this simple model helps us to keep a proper perspective.

 

When we pause to pray, we need to remind ourselves of whom we’re addressing – the God of all eternity, the Creator of the universe. Sounds kind of important, doesn’t it? So adoration – or praise – is a good place to start. I suspect this isn’t original with me, but the one who prays to God also gives praise to God.

 

Confession is a way of making sure our prayer connection is clear, that there’s no static on the line. We don’t want any kind of interference when our desire is to communicate with the Lord.

 

Thanksgiving essentially is remembering who He is, as well as all that He’s already done for us, before we dive into our “shopping list.” There’s lots to thank him for, starting with a night’s rest, the fact we woke up to a new day with unlimited opportunities and potential, answers to prayers uttered in the past. The list could go on.

 

Then, finally, we can move on to supplications – our requests – whether they’re for ourselves or others. Philippians 4:6-7 wraps this up into a handy little bundle: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Which leads to one additional benefit: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

The tools God has provided for us – truth, righteousness, the gospel of Christ, faith, salvation, and His Word – are all wonderful. But let’s not neglect the tool of prayer. It just might be the cog that enables us to implement the other tools most effectively.