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Thursday, July 07, 2005
I think it's peculiar how every line of work has it's own jargon...it's own way of using words that people in that line of work understand and those outside of that line of work simply don't "get."
Computer experts have that kind of code-speak down pat. If I call someone to help with their computer you'll hear all sorts of buzz words like "gigs" and "megs" and "lan networks" and stuff like that.
My wife is a photographer and she has her own words, like "aperature" and "f-stops" and "fish-eye." Other photographers get it, but I don't.
Youth ministers even have their own buzzwords, like "emerging" or "contacting" or "building time" or whatever.
In our chosen hobby or job, we can always say a lot of things and nobody really understands the full meaning.
And Paul uses one in this section of Scripture. So, either grab a Bible and turn to the text or scroll down and read yesterday's entry. It's in there, too.
Verse 15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth."
First of all, note the we're COMMANDED (not asked) to give ourselves to God. In fact, we're supposed to be diligent to do so. It means we're to be zealous, to be passionate about doing so.
Then note that we're to seek God's approval in our work. Not man's. Not our own. But God's approval. I've heard the phrase somewhere before, but we're supposed to live our lives for an Unseen Audience of One.
We also need to be pleased with our work. A friend of mine had a sprinkler system installed recently. Then, over the next few months he noticed a series of leaks. He had to dig 5 times to repair the leaks, which sprung from disconnected pipes at the joints. It turns out that the sprinkler company had forgotten to glue the PVC pipe to the joints, so they were simply popping out of place. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be for the owner of the sprinkler company to have to keep coming out and fixing his poor work? He'd rightfully be ashamed. We to be pleased with our offering.
And then the "buzz word." We're to "handle accurately" the Word of God. It means "cutting straight." It was a tent-maker's term for cutting his material straight rather than in unmeasured, uncareful ways. It also is used to describe a builder who lines his bricks in straight rows or a farmer who makes straight rows for his plants. We're to be the same with the Word.
Each one of us.
So, for today...are we diligent with the Word? What are some things that have helped you with your individual study of God's Word that you'd tell us that might hlep us to become accurate handlers? Why is this valuable, so much that Paul is encouraging it?
Brent 6:44 AM
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