"Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge." Proverbs 23:12
A wall in our home office is filled with shelves, and all of those shelves are filled with books. Wonderful books! My husband laughs at one of my favorite defenses when books overflow the office and other choice places throughout the house: “Books are our friends!”
This particular wall houses the majority of the Christian materials…roughly 400 inches, 33.3 feet, 11+ yards, almost 2/3 of a wall of books, videos, DVDs, periodicals, magazines, and other collected materials to aid in our life journey as followers of Jesus. I go there to build on my knowledge, to research and study, utilize teaching resources, for inspiration and a deeper understanding of the Word.
That little, oft-changing collection holds a wealth of information on ancient Jewish life, writings of early church fathers and mothers, concordances, dictionaries of Bible words, topical books by favorite authors, studies on the blood of Jesus, saints and angels, the praying life, Old and New Testament studies, church history, modern-day interpretation of the language of the Bible, and so much more. And of course, the Bible itself... lots of Bibles… an entire shelf of translations and paraphrases including the KJV, NKJV, NAS, RSV, NRSV NEB, CEV, ISV, NIV, NLT, NCV, The Living Bible, Good News for Modern Man, The Message, the Complete Jewish Bible, the Amplified Bible… and maybe a couple more.
As I browse through this collection (like visiting a host of old friends), the pertinent and relevant question replays in my mind: so what difference is all this making in my life? The point of possessing this wealth of information is its application in everyday endeavors, encounters with neighbors, friends, family, our church community, and every situation along the path God has appointed for me. So how am I doing with that?
How are you doing with that?
God has appointed each of us to live in this era of history, in this location of the world, in your neighborhood and mine, each with our own sphere of influence with family, friends, and acquaintances in passing. How has He wired you to interact with the world around you? Are we using the wealth of resources He has graciously placed in our keeping? We are blessed to live as one of the most materially privileged people on the face of the earth…so long as we remember that with such privilege comes responsibility to the Giver of all good gifts. May each of us recognize His call to be ambassadors according to the riches and wealth of knowledge He has entrusted to us.
Proverbs 23:12 - "Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge." (NABRE)
James 1:22 - "Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves." (ERV)