How Deep Is Your Well Part # 2
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength,and a man of knowledge enhances his might. Proverbs 24:3–5
I am constantly listening to lectures and podcasts when ever I have an excuse or opportunity to. Generally I listen to people I am somewhat familiar with, or tune into topics I have some curiosity in. However, I have come to realize, when I think back on the hundreds of hours of listening I have done, the lectures and interviews that stand out the most, have often been ones given by complete strangers on topics I knew or cared little about. There is something enthralling about hearing someone who is both passionate and filled with encyclopedic knowledge on their subject matter. After listening to such people, no matter how obscure the subject, whether if be, subatomic particle theory, or 17th century Norwegian macrame, they can make anything sound riveting!
One of the unintended consequence I find when being enthralled by a passionate expert in their field, is how it ends up inspiring me to dig deeper into my own faith. They motivate me to learn more Scripture, study more theology, and engage with more historic thinkers. They inspire me to communicate my own Christian belief to others with a similar depth and enthusiasm. Sadly, desire is not enough. No one goes to bed and wakes up the next morning with a PHD in quantum physics, and no well-meaning minister wakes up as the next Billy Graham or Thomas Aquinas.
Over the years I have chatted with many Christians, and realized I am just one of many who has a deep hunger to grow in their understanding and knowledge of the “Greatest Story Ever Told.” I have spoken with young Christians, who share how self-conscious they feel in church trying to figure out the right place to turn to in their Bibles. I have heard from seasoned saints, who have gone to church most of their lives, and are still afraid to share in a Bible study. Finally, I have met with the rare birds, who as a pastor I feel they put me to shame by their breadth of knowledge, and ironically, these same erudite saints are also quick to complain of their own ignorance. All three categories, though very different, each have a thirst to learn and grow, but many, except the rare, are unsure where to begin.
There is an old expression, and because it is so common, we hardly pause to consider, the most important perspectives are also the most blatantly obvious. The expression, first given by John Heywood in the 15th century, is, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Obviously meaning, great cities are constructed one brick at a time and over a long period of time. I am not sure if I would still be in the ministry today if it was not for this same advice, just worded very differently, given to me on my first week on the job.
Pastor A. sat the three of us summer interns down in his office, and then encouraged us in the least likely way I could have imagined. He said: “I want you to know, I am not really concerned with what you will accomplish for the church this summer, I am far more interested in what you will accomplish for God twenty, thirty, forty-plus years from now.” He continued, and then shared a sentiment, which has stuck with me ever since, and which I share as often as I can: “Remember, whatever you do today is consequential for who you will be twenty years from now. The effort and study you give today, will be more important to the potential sermons you might be preaching twenty years from now, than it will be to the fifteen minute devotions you will be giving to teenagers next week — Never separate the importance of the work you do today, from who you will become in the future!” He then added, “I am far more interested in what type of people you will be, and what you will accomplish twenty years from now, than I am in worrying about who you are today.”
Even twenty-three years that little bit of insight still floors me. My Pastor was not indicating that he did not care about who we were today, rather he chose to emphasize, how we choose to invest today will be essential to who we become down the road; he helped us see a much bigger picture. With this advice comes a universal wisdom; a wisdom that is helpful for everyone at any age and at every stage: A pianist has to play beginner books before he can play Beethoven; a chemist has to be able to read her ABCs before she can read her periodic table. For the new, awkward and shy Christian, it means, you may not have much Bible knowledge today, but it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find the book of Nahum next year. For the older Christian, it's never too late to start digging, and you may be surprised that you actually know far more than you give yourself credit. And for us full-time preachers, hopefully we can age like a fine wine; getting better with time; intoxicating ourselves and our listeners, by daily delving into and delivering the divine depths of our Saviour!
Where does one begin when one wants to grow, but doesn’t know where to start? By picking up a brick today, and another one tomorrow.
(i.e. read a chapter of Scripture, a devotional, a good book; listen to a sermon, a podcast, a lecture; have a conversation; ask a question)
