II Timothy 2: 15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  God’s goal for each of us is to build the character of Christ and the Word of God into our personal lives.  We often call this discipleship and this is a good definition.  It also means that we become more mature in Christ and work toward becoming a mature Christian.  A mature Christian is defined as a Christian who hears and knows what God is saying and then does it.  It takes much more than just a head knowledge.  It takes a heart response and action.  There are people whom I would call “Cabbage Christians.”  They engage in church, Bible studies, spiritual conferences, reading of books and watching videos to gain knowledge.  But, they just sit on these and do not actively handle the “word of truth.”  They are called “Cabbage Christians because they are all head and no heart.  The Christian life is not a spectator sport, but a participator in the game of life with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It takes time, experience and consistent study of God’s Word to rightly handle the word of truth and become mature in Christ.  However, it should be a goal of every Christian man as he leads in every area of his life.  Some men mature faster than others and maturity is not always related to age although age and experience are great teachers of life.  As we become more mature, we please God and impact others by spiritually leading according to the word of truth.  Look at a football team and the leadership of the quarterback.  A freshman has not yet gained a full grasp of the playbook or experienced hard times.  With study and playing time in the game, the quarterback leading the team becomes more mature and a better leader.  This same principle is true for every man trying to lead his family.  The bottom line is simple:  “Work and study diligently to become a mature leader, rightly handling the word of truth.”