From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Hurrying to do what you want
Have you ever noticed yourself more or less "dragging your feet" to avoid doing something you did not want to
do? We tend to do this when we're tired, hate the task before us, or, just
have some thing else we prefer to do instead. I remember us reading a book
to Joy when she was little, titled, "Goose goofs off", in which the title
character was always putting off doing her chores. If she needed to hang
the laundry outside to dry (yes, we did that before dryers were readily
available!), she would say something like, "it's such a beautiful
day. I would hate to waste it doing laundry. I'll do it
tomorrow!" Concerning other chores, she would say, "why do today what
I can put off till tomorrow?" That probably sounds like someone you know
(or, maybe yourself), but you get the idea. We tend to put off those
things we don't want to or feel like doing. On the other hand, if we see
something very important to us, or, we love doing, we will surely
find ourselves hurrying to get to the point we can do
it. We find ourselves suddenly motivated to get busy doing that particular
thing, even to the point of "dropping" what we were doing to get on to that
important or enjoyable activity. We are going to make every effort to do
what we really want to do. That thought struck me as I read the admonition
the Apostle Paul gave Timothy, and by extension, us, when he wrote, Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth. (2 Timothy 2:15
(KJV)
That word "study" usually doesn't bring pleasant
thoughts to our minds, but let's look at little closer at it. It is
usually translated in the King James Version of the Bible as, "endeavor", or "be
diligent," but the root Greek word used for it means "to use
speed!" As I mentioned previously, we only hurry to do what we
really enjoy, or, think is vitally important. How many times have you
"used speed" to get to the reading of, or "digging into" the Word of God?
If you are honest, the answer would be either "not very many", or "never!"
Why do you think that's the case? Why don't we think it's fun, or
extremely important? Probably because we would really rather be
doing something else we enjoy. Paul is teaching us here, though, that
the Word of God should become very important to us. Why should it,
though. Here are a few reasons:
1. The word is nigh
thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we
preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture
saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is
no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich
unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? (Romans 10:8-14 (KJV) Your salvation would be
impossible if you had not heard the Word; you would be
facing eternity in the Lake of Fire!
2. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God. (Romans 10:17 (KJV) You wouldn't even have the
faith to believe unto salvation if you had not heard the
Word of God.
3. Search the scriptures; for in them
ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of
me. (John 5:39 (KJV)
4. Above all, taking the shield
of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God. (Ephesians 6:16-17 (KJV) As
we battle against the enemy of our souls, Satan, we need God's equipment to do
it. The only offensive weapon we have available to us is the word of
God. Without it, we can only hide in our armor.
These 4 things are not the only reasons, but
don't you think they are enough to prod you into making the Word a higher
priority in your life? Don't "put off to tomorrow what you could (and
should) do today!" Make haste, "use speed" to get into the source of your
eternal life; learn to handle it properly, make sure you're not ashamed
by your inability to use it and unfamiliarity with it.
Hurry up and get in to the Word of God!
Ben