Study and Serve, A Balancing Act

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your

wondrous works. Psalm 119:27

 

Occasionally, I wrestle with how much is too much Bible study. But Psalm 119 emphasizes over and over how important the Word of God is. It talks about God’s laws, His statutes, His testimonies, His precepts, His promises, His words, His rules, and His commandments (and that may not be an exhaustive list).  Verse 130 reminds us why we should spend so much time in it: “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” I need understanding, I can be pretty simple! 

I have been studying the Bible for about 17 years and counting.  At any given time that may include two or three books about the Bible.  One may just be for personal edification.  Another may be a commentary related to a Book of the Bible. Still another may be part of a study I am doing with someone else. I justify all this studying by my job as teacher.   

Perhaps others can relate to the dilemma of  whether or not so much study keeps us  from serving God in a way that would serve other people more practically. Even knowing that teaching is a gift God gives to some and He calls them to it, I still wonder if some of us could be overdoing Bible study.   

Many teachers also like to be “doers”. Within the church setting there are meals to make, errands to run, hungry to feed, children to care for, and lonely people to visit. Can we justify so much study when others are in need?   

For myself, I rest in God’s call, — my studying allows me to teach, write, and counsel. When I first started teaching outside of the structure of Bible Study Fellowship,  Jeremiah 1:7 was taught during a Sunday School class. “…for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” That was a wakeup call that I needed to be prepared to do just that. In order to teach well one must be studied and adding to our bases of knowledge and understanding all the time.  

In the Spring I studied some of the “one another” verses for a retreat I was going to teach. They really drove home the importance God places on being actively a part of each other’s lives if we are Christians. He acknowledges that life is not always easy and assigns us work to do for each other to lighten our loads. If people do not know the Word of God they may never see their own gifts and “works God has called them to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Teaching God’s Word is a good work God has called some to do, me included.   

As the summer began our Pastor started a series of sermons on the “one another” verses. Every week he tells about our need to “love one another”, “serve one another”, “encourage one another”, “admonish one another”, or “forgive one another”.  I know that teaching the Bible should cover at least loving, serving, encouraging and admonishing so I guess I should stop being so concerned about what I am not doing and be grateful for the work God has called me to do.   

It is not my intention to discourage anyone from studying the Bible. The question we each need to ask is, “What I am doing with this Biblical knowledge I am gaining through the study of God’s Word?” Psalm 119 reminds us many times of how practical, how edifying, and how much grace comes from knowing the scriptures. It is important that we not keep that all to ourselves! Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Are we giving of what we receive from studying the Bible? If we keep it ourselves we will not produce fruit for the Lord.  

In John 15:8 Jesus says, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”   

I think that the key for all of us is balance. We do need to study God’s Word but we also need to serve Him – and those around us. For women that may take different shapes at different times of our lives.  Moms with small children will give most of their fruit bearing time to their husbands and children. Later, perhaps they will serve and encourage in Sunday School, by singing in the choir, teaching during Vacation Bible School or in a Para church ministry. Every season of life will offer us different works to do to produce fruit for God and allow us time to study His Word.  

While I am not convinced I should continue to wrestle with myself about spending too much time in God’s word, I do know that any of us can get out of balance – both the study of His Word and service to others are important to God. Both bring blessings.