A Lesson From The See-Saw

Growing up, I was always big for my age. You didn’t want to play see-saw with me unless you had a highly-developed spirit of adventure. Or a death-wish. Because I tended to dwarf my friends, the weight balance was always out-of-whack, and there was a strong likelihood that my latest see-saw partner/victim would be vaulted into the stratosphere. On our playground, helmets and padding were standard equipment.

Balance, we are told, is the Secret Of Life (apologies to James Taylor). One area where balance is important is in how we approach Scripture. It’s vital to read it devotionally for spiritual nourishment but also for serious study. Both are necessary because, as the saying goes, you can’t ask “What does this mean for me?” until you have a sense of “What did it mean for the original readers/hearers?” Put another way, a passage may have multiple applications, but its fundamental sense can’t violate what the writer intended to say to his immediate audience. Our devotional reading needs to be informed and undergirded by this knowledge.

How can we know what the writers intended? Through thoughtful roll-up-the-sleeves study. Yet we find a disturbing attitude in many churches, which says that in-depth Bible study is only for the specialists - pastors and teachers, who will then dole it out on Sunday mornings or in small group meetings. There are many dangers to this, not the least of which is not knowing if our leaders are feeding us truth or Cheez Whiz. There is a lot of Elmer Fudd theology out there. We need to know the difference for ourselves.

The great news is that we don't have to be trained Biblical scholars to get deeply into the Word. There is a wealth of solid, user-friendly Bible study helps of all sorts in hard copy and on the web. Few of us can legitimately say that we lack access to the tools. If anything is lacking, it’s the commitment to just dive in and do the work. Yet as many will tell you, once we begin, the rewards come quickly. On top of that, we find ourselves getting jazzed! Soon we can’t get enough. We get psyyyyyyched! Sleep becomes optional. Unsightly drooling may occur (see your doctor). Someone once said to me, “I had no idea I could get this excited about Bible study…BIBLE STUDY!”.

I’ll be the first to confess that I don’t always maintain the balance well. Study involves some work, while devotional reading is comparatively easy. But I’m trying. I want Scripture to inform my heart and my mind, with one voice.