Watching accomplished musicians, gymnasts, sportsmen, poets, linguists articulate their science often leaves us in wonder. How magnificently these artists know, and perform, with such skill, precision and finesse. Practitioners of every discipline under the sun, expend much time and effort into studying and perfecting their skills; the building blocks, building strength, time and efforts taken to digest, to understand, to appreciate, to investigate, to deliberate, to practice, to overcome, to bring the body into subjection.
Every discipline is premised on texts and traditions laid down from antiquity. Studying has always been conceded and construed to be a tedious bore. In any discipline, the basics are foundational. No wise structure is built without firm foundations. The progress of growth in knowledge is organic; on a daily basis, building block on block, step by step, the meticulous completion of chapters and scripts. Short-cuts are inadvisable. Knowledge cannot be fragmented or rudimentary. There is required, much work to invest in the accumulation of knowledge and skill.
Knowledge is far diverse from skill. Skills denote a practiced, proficient, exponent, capable of profound appreciation, investigation and application. Head knowledge is not the equivalent of skill.
An accomplished athlete does not always make an Olympian; Modern-day Olympians religiously and sacrificially train for gold. Few will succeed in their chase for this earthly trophy. But Olympians are still mere mortals. Early Olympians only got laurel wreaths. We have the promise of eternal crowns!
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Mat 16:26)
The apostle Paul calls us “spiritually discerned”; we know the importance of spiritual matters; the necessity of being in the word, the call to study and to be tested, to be approved workmen. Spiritual men and women are not accidents of nature. They are, by His grace working in them, taught, sanctified and set apart for His use. Barring places of high illiteracy, it is an abnormality to find His workmen bible illiterate. Would we expend this breath that we have been given to the study of His word, to become able defenders of the faith, to become faithful bearers of His gospel to all the world?
Every discipline is premised on texts and traditions laid down from antiquity. Studying has always been conceded and construed to be a tedious bore. In any discipline, the basics are foundational. No wise structure is built without firm foundations. The progress of growth in knowledge is organic; on a daily basis, building block on block, step by step, the meticulous completion of chapters and scripts. Short-cuts are inadvisable. Knowledge cannot be fragmented or rudimentary. There is required, much work to invest in the accumulation of knowledge and skill.
Knowledge is far diverse from skill. Skills denote a practiced, proficient, exponent, capable of profound appreciation, investigation and application. Head knowledge is not the equivalent of skill.
An accomplished athlete does not always make an Olympian; Modern-day Olympians religiously and sacrificially train for gold. Few will succeed in their chase for this earthly trophy. But Olympians are still mere mortals. Early Olympians only got laurel wreaths. We have the promise of eternal crowns!
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Mat 16:26)
The apostle Paul calls us “spiritually discerned”; we know the importance of spiritual matters; the necessity of being in the word, the call to study and to be tested, to be approved workmen. Spiritual men and women are not accidents of nature. They are, by His grace working in them, taught, sanctified and set apart for His use. Barring places of high illiteracy, it is an abnormality to find His workmen bible illiterate. Would we expend this breath that we have been given to the study of His word, to become able defenders of the faith, to become faithful bearers of His gospel to all the world?
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2Ti 2:15)
It is right to spend time in study, and in the pursuit of good worldly things. Whilst we are often faulted for not expending enough time on secular school studies, let us also not evade the fact that we study our bible even less! And what if we succeeded in gaining the whole world?
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1Co 9:24-25)
Let’s take out our bibles.
God bless.
/ckh
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