Sometimes, you wonder if it's worth it... I'm talking about the extra work required to dig a little deeper into Scripture; to push yourself a little further than you think you can go. I remember reading that the fruit of God's word does not yield itself to the lazy.
I was reading in Philippians 4 and thinking about the word : "think." Chapter 4 of this book gives us a list of things to "think about" or to "dwell on."
Finally, brethren, whatever is true
whatever is honorable
whatever is right
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is of good repute
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,
dwell on these things.
What have you been dwelling on today ? money, whether or not she likes you, your grades, your homework, your savings account, your lack of motivation.... God's word tells us to dwell on what is right and pure. Here's a thought I found while researching this idea:
" The sharing of the logizesthai ( greek word for 'think about') through faith is not a case of merely holding something to be true but is also an inspiration and activity, as in the OT hasab. Philippians 4:8 and I Corinthians 13:5 are to be expounded in the light of Zechariah 8:17 and not of 2 Tim. 4:16. This kind of thinking is not solely an intellectual construction, but can arrive at factual conclusions which demand corresponding actions ( Romans 14:14), just as the word and the act are one with God. Hence, we should evaluate others and ourselves rightly, not by false standards, but as they and we stand in God's sight.
( Colin Brown Dict of NT Theo p 825 Vol 3)
I was impressed by the idea that "dwelling on these things" is not just sitting and thinking, but sitting, thinking and then acting on those thoughts. This is only meaningful when we draw conclusions from our thoughts and those ideas shape how we act. Here is an example:
When I go out in public, what do my eyes see in the mall, at blockbuster, standing in the check out line at Wal Mart ? The world says it is just fine to stare at women dressed immodestly. Philippians 4:8 tells me to dwell on those things that are pure. How can I read Philippians 4 and then stare at something impure ? I can't do it and keep a clear conscience. If I have to walk through the mall to get to a store that has what I'm looking for and I pass by a store that is advertising things that should remain private, what do I do ? I have to look in the other direction. This is not the only area; there are others. When I sense that a friend is about to go down the road of gossip, do I keep listening or stop them ? Will I rob God of tithes of offerings ? ( and think about how I could use the money differently ... for more noble purposes ? ) When I am alone in a hotel for 6 hours, how will I use that time ? When I am hungry, lonely and tired will I become a total jerk to get relief ? When the person I'm meeting is late, will I seethe with resentment ? When I wake up in the morning, will I start the to do list or humble myself before the Lord ?
Whatever is right .... dwell on these things. Whatever is right .... do these things.
