Put Down Your Books
If I was to always have my nose in a good book, I would lose touch with reality (and probably lose my job too!!)
Reference: All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas. (Acts 17:21 NIV)
Explore: While I don’t have a great deal of spare time, I do enjoy reading novels. I use it as complete escapism.
There’s nothing quite like getting comfy in my favourite chair and losing myself in a good book. In my opinion, the book is a success if I’m able to get attached to the characters and get completely involved in the story line.
There have been times when a book has captured my attention so much that I have taken it with me wherever I went, just in case I’d have a spare moment throughout the day to find out what was happening next!
Good books are great for education, entertainment and even to escape the busyness of life. However, if I was to always have my nose in a good book, I would lose touch with reality (and probably lose my job too!!)
There are a thousand books on any particular subject you might like to read about, and it’s great to be well read, however, there is a real danger in just reading and never doing.
I have had fellow students who can recite chunks of text from scripture as well as the best theologians. However, if they are not putting any of their faith into practice, then their intellect and knowledge is worthless.
Application: When Paul was travelling his missionary routes he came across many different people. When he got to Athens he found people who continually explored the thoughts of this world. While he did not chastise them for their constant pontifications, he did realise that they still didn’t know the truth.
It’s great to read up on our faith and consider our position on current cultural issues of the time, but often this gets in the way of the simplistic foundations of our faith: know God, love people.
No matter how you look at historical documents or current theological practices, the call of Christ was clear. No one is exempt, no one is excluded. It’s my belief that we get so caught up on minutia that we forget how Christ lived and that He is the example we should be following.
Let us continue to explore our knowledge of life, but may we not lose our active faith in the process.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of study. Help us to know how to apply our knowledge to our faith so that we can live according to Your will. Amen.
What is the minutia in your life that trips you up from knowing God and loving people?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.