Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word
of truth.
2Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
When we think of "study" we may have deprecation because we associate that word with School, and that may or may not have good memories or just bring back the time spent in "study." Grades were important then so "study" was important but as we grew into adulthood "study" took on another meaning or just something to be avoided unless somehow necessary such as in work. In this culture parents are busy running children to and fro, to this dance class, or soccer practice, going to games, trying to find a little "down" time so a person could relax: study does not even come to mind and if it did, you would do as many of us have done: shun the thought. I'll get my knowledge from the preacher when I go to hear a sermon: that is enough! I'm tired! I have been that way myself! Then, I realized that my priorities were askew. Time to examine myself, my prioities.
The Greek word translated as "study" may be good but does not tell us what the word in Greek: σπούδασον, an imperative. second person singular, 1aorist, means, so let us examine this word so we get the full understanding of it so we can follow the word of God. This Greek word means to use speed, to make an effort, to be prompt, or earnest, to exert oneself, to endeavor , to give diligence. It is used in many ways in the New Testament: to be diligent, to be found in peace without fault and blameless, let us labor, of making our calling and election sure. So, it is more than sitting down with a text book and pouring over the pages in study. This word is imperative, in other words, it is a command, not a suggestion.
If you cannot express yourself, and if you cannot defend your faith (1Peter 2:15) on any subject, (it might be politics, or cooking, or gardening, or working on a car, etc.,) and if it is important to you then you must struggle until you can express yourself. If you do not then you will be poorer all your days of your life. Take time to re-express yourself in regards to some truth of God to yourself, and here is an important part of this study: God will use that expression your gain, this illumination, to someone else. God will use what you put in to your mind for His purpose and if you put nothing in your mind about God, then God will not use you. God will not call to your mind that which is not already in your mind. You must go through the winepress of God, just as grapes must go through the winepress before they become wine. Yes, you will have to struggle so you get the expression experimentally, and then this "wine" of strengthening will become the "wine" of strength for someone else. Now, if you refuse and say: "I will not go through this struggle, I am busy enough already, and I will borrow, or get from a sermon only, what I will express, to myself, or to others, you, and this expression will not only be of no use to you, but of no use to anyone else. You do not have to become a theologian, no, but you must study diligently so you can express your faith to anyone who will ask, and by your life a person(s) may then just ask: why? Then you will be of use to express your faith. What to you explicitly state to be God's truth? If you have diligently studied God's word, and this may mean going to Bible studies, sermons, etc., and personal study, then you are giving God a chance to use you to pass this truth to someone else. Remember we are not left on earth after our conversion to Jesus Christ, to just say that we are "Christian" and then just go about doing everything but study, diligent study of God's word.
Always make it a practice of provoking your own mind to think out what it accepts easily. Our position on a subject is not ours until we make it ours and this may, probably will, cause suffering. Study what the pastor has preached, make sure that you are benefited, not just telling you what you did not know before, but the one who give expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance.
We hear so much soft preaching, teaching, and easy to accept verses that make us feel good, or cause some sort of sentimentality in us, and in some sense making Jesus to be a "teddy bear," or One who is sitting by to give us prosperity, a job, money, health, etc., that we forget that we are eternally saved and that while we are on earth our job is to "study" to make sure of what is being told to us, and then, to take the truth, the Gospel to our world. Be a workman who has studied diligently God's word and be of use however you can, however God providentially will use you. Here is a blessing that cannot be measured.
Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
My son, attend unto my wisdom,
and bow thine ear in my understanding.
Proverbs 5:1
Set time aside to study
Richard L.Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment