Recently I wrote a brief “article” in an email to youth group parents pertaining to the importance of being dedicated to God’s Word at home. Although I originally wrote it in response to a Wednesday night class of disengaged and disinterested teens, I later decided that perhaps the overall message of that “article” could benefit others as well. My hope is that this message will simply be a reminder for us.
Have you read Proverbs 29:18 lately? Check it out – “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law” (NIV). What this verse is talking about is that when there is a lack of prophetic “vision,” or “revelation,” a.k.a. the Word of God, the people just live however they want! I like how the NLT words this verse – “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.” After witnessing a large amount of disengaged and disinterested teens during class a few weeks ago – majority of which didn’t even have a Bible with them for BIBLE class – I began to wonder: What am I doing wrong as a teacher, or youth minister, or church leader that is causing such a lack of interest for studying the divine Word of God? But really, that question led me to another thought: Could it be possible that this lack of interest for studying God’s Word goes beyond the realm of youth ministry? Could it be possible that the teens are merely reflecting what has been modeled for them by others within the church? Could it be possible that too many Christians today have become complacent in their faith, and rely too much on simply “attending church” for their spiritual sustenance?
Now, I’ll be the first to admit – as a teacher, I can always strive to offer better, more thought-provoking and spiritually-challenging lessons. However, I am only one person; which means I am extremely limited in the amount of influence I have in the lives of others. Did you know there are 10,080 minutes in a week? Go ahead; do the math. Now, let’s say that you attend Sunday morning Bible class (45 minutes), morning worship (60 minutes), evening worship (60 minutes), and Wednesday evening (60 minutes); AND you are engaged spiritually and engrossed in God’s Word the entire time. That would mean you are getting only 225 minutes of quality “revelation,” or doses of God’s Word.
Now I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s just simply not enough time in the Word if our hope is to be a people who fully abide in Christ. If we are truly striving to be Christ-followers who love God, serve others, and own our faith, then we certainly must make the study and living-out of His Word a priority in our lives.
Deut. 6:4-9; Psalm 119:57-64; James 1:22-25.