Some people just love to argue! Discernible in the graffiti on a subway wall was a philosophical thought: "Life is a series of contradictions!" "No it's not," wrote another person. At home, or work, or at church, if we are looking for a fight, we will likely find it.
Paul believes better things for his young protégé. He tells Timothy not to quarrel which does no good. God's servants do our very best to present ourselves to God as one approved. Pastors especially must do our work by rightly handling the Word of truth so that we do not have to be ashamed. We all finally answer to an audience of One.
For this reason, the Lord wants his servants to avoid quarrels. We are called to kindness, teaching God's Word, enduring evil, correcting others with gentleness. Why? Why be nice to people who are not nice? Because our goal is not to win but to win them. If we are gentle, there is a chance, not a guarantee, but a chance that they will repent and come to a knowledge of the truth. One pastor observed, "Be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a hard time."