Laying a Firm Foundation

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

I hung up the phone in disgust, misled again by yet another job superintendent.  This time, my lack of knowledge and their poor sense of humor had cost the company money.  Wanting to scream in frustration, I went to my boss’ office to complain about my lack of building construction knowledge.

My job was truck scheduler for an aluminum manufacturing company.  It was my responsibility to contact job sites to determine the building progress so I could schedule delivery of roof materials.  Unless they were in a panic over deadlines, the job site supervisor rarely called.  Unfortunately, since I didn’t know much about the building process, they took great delight in telling me they were ready when they really weren’t.

It was clear that my foundation of building construction knowledge was lacking.  Meeting with my boss helped to point me in the right direction to acquire the information I needed to do the job more effectively.

Many of us are feeling the same frustration when it comes to understanding Biblical concepts.  A lack of knowledge and understanding keeps us from developing a more personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We’re stuck on a “milk diet,” wondering how to have a Biblical foundation.

Peter understood that every Believer has to begin with the “milk of the Word” for he writes:  “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;” 1 Peter 2:2. A new Christian has to study the Bible to learn about our Lord and to discover how to have a relationship with Him.  However, there comes a point when new growth must occur.

You know it is far easier to stick with what you know and grow content, refusing to continue to grow in knowledge and understanding.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews understood that spiritual maturity requires us to move past the basics.  The Hebrews were dull of hearing because they heard the same things over and over.  They weren’t growing spiritually, preferring ignorance.

“…seeing ye are dull of hearing.  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:  for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:11-14

As Paul instructed Timothy, we are to study God’s Word so that we can become equipped to do the work the Lord has called us to do.  But first, we must lay that firm foundation of basic Bible concepts.  Then we must obey what we learn.

“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:  and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it:  for it was founded upon a rock.”  Luke 6:48

Change is only a prayer away…

Dear Lord, I pray that you will give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word so I may acquire a Biblical foundation.  I pray for spiritual understanding and wisdom that I may be equipped to teach others.  Please help me to walk in all of your ways that I might be a faithful servant.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 
Copyright © 2011 by Linda Hull, Words of Encouragement