2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

--do your best: spoudazo: to make effort; be diligent; endeavor, labor, study. This implies strenuous persistent action on our part.

--approved: dokimos: acceptable. We are acceptable before God because of the shed blood of Christ, the atonement for the sins of those who believe, but this implies we should strive in our own activity to please God. This means knowing and obeying His commands.

--workman: ergates: toiler, laborer, worker. One who is engaged in the activities God commands.

--correctly handles: rightly divides in KJV: othotomeo: make a straight cut; dissect. Not just reading the word but studying it, understanding it and applying it.

Observations:
1) We are to strive to please God. This is active and energy requiring.
2) We can only please God if we know what he commands and/or delights him.
3) Knowing the scripture is the only way we can understand what God delights in and commands.
4) Rightly dividing scripture requires us to know the scripture as a whole (as each passage should be interpreted in light of all the others) and requires close communion with God (as revelation from the Holy Spirit is necessary for understanding and application).