Introduction:
There is a bit of advice about reducing weight and keeping sound health.
It says that we must watch carefully our
intakes of food if we will be serious in this endeavor of weight
reducing. It says that if we will not cut down our
intakes of carbohydrates and sweet food, we will not be able
to obtain what we are desiring of. This principle is saying that
intakes will determine output. Of course, this is not always true
to all because of the so called body metabolism. I get to know
some people who eat a lot but their physical outlook never changes.
I also know some people who control their intakes by proper dieting and
yet their weight continues to increase. Still in most cases, the
principle of input/output remains to be true.
If this principle is true to our physical body, the same will
be true with the manner our minds function. What we choose to bring in
our heads determines what kind of habits are to be formed. In other words,
belief determines behavior. Out of this basic principle that we understand
to be true, we state our next premise concerning order in our private world:
The ordering of our private world cannot take place without strong mental
endurance and the intellectual growth this endurance produces. There
is no doubt that there is a significant link between order in private world
and maintaining a habit of diligent study and of discovering facts.
Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your
mind.” Therefore, the key to the transformation of our private world
is the renewing of our mind. Because of this piece of truth, the
Apostle Paul is admonishing all Christians when he said, “Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy--think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
A secular educator was asked to give his analysis/observation
concerning the view of many Filipino people to good education. By
passing, this educator made a comment concerning the manner many Filipinos
want to learn. He said that most of them want to be told exactly
what they should do instead of discovering facts and looking for creative
ways to accomplish things. The challenge of God’s Word, of Christian as
well as of secular Educators is the same: make each day a day of
growth in knowledge and wisdom. First, let’s define a working formula to
understand what we’re saying here.
•One way to bring order to our private world is by the renewing
of our mind.
•One way to renew our mind is by keeping the habit of diligent
study.
•One way to keep the habit of diligent study is by observing
rules that govern successful study.
I. The Renewing Of Our Mind
The prerequisite to bring order to our private world is the renewing
of our mind. This renewing of the mind is shown in Christian’s reaction
to problems of life. By the renewing of our mind, we come to understand
the purpose of trials and difficulties. As people who possess renewed
mind, we look at all kinds of circumstances on God’s perspective and never
on our own perspective. Renewed minds believe that God works all
things together for the good of those love Him. Renewsed minds are
contented in spite of many needs because they believe that it is not things
on earth that can guarantee full satisfaction.
Mind is also renewed as shown in Christian’s attitude towards
others. What is the cardinal rule in this wolrd as far as relationshiop
is concern. Always do your best to be on the top; get even. A renewed
mind looks at the interest of others (Phil. 2:3).
We can also be sure that a mind is renewed by the manner an individual
Christian commits his life to God. This is the great manifestation
of a renewed mind. His life is given to the Lordship and authority
of God.
A renewed mind does not conform to the ways and systems of this
world. The renewed mind of a Christian is out in the world to influence
them instead of the renewed mind being influenced by the patterns and strategies
of this world.
II. The Habit Of Diligent Study
There are two basic ways to look at the discipline of study.
First there is such thing as the DEFENSIVE study. That means that
a person will only be motivated to study because of an upcoming big event
where that person is going to be a resource speaker. There is also
the so-called OFFENSIVE study. This means that one is exploring truth
from different sources without necessarily the pressure of preparing speech
or something.
The habit of diligent study happens when a person becomes a listener.
If a person is not a listener, he denies his mind a major source of informaiton
by which to grow. The first step in becoming a listener is to learn
to ask questions. Right questions will be valuable for the purposes
of growth.
We should never say that we are too old enough to learn.
Let me share with you what I found in the letter of Paul to Timothy (Paul’s
first and second letter). It is so striking to note that it is both
in the same chapter and verse (4:13). Paul’s admonition to Timothy
was never to stop studying, never to stop reading books. Paul himself
was still a wide reader because he had asked Timothy to bring his books
in jail. What age Paul was when he requested his books to be brought
to him in jail. Paul was almost dying. He was almost at the
point of death yet we heard him still looking for ways he can make progress
intellectually.
Is the habit of diligen study a prescription from God?
Mark 12:30 says that, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind
(the intellectual nature), with all your heart (the emotional nature),
with all you soul (the willing nature); and with all your strength (the
physical nature. The strength here might mean the strength of all
three. The problem comes tis way: some love Him with the strength
of the mind but with the weakness of emotion--these are the intellectuals.
Some love Him with the strength of the emotion but with the weakness of
the mind--these are the sentimentalists. Some love Him with the strength
of the will but with the weakness of emotion--these are the men who are
not approachable. We must learn to balance the things that God requires
to us all!
III. Rules That Govern Successful Study
Actually, there are three intrinsic rules in studying a book.
The rules are you UNDERSTAND what you are reading, meaning what the author
is saying. You INTERPRET what you are reading, meaning what the author
means. Then, you EVALUATE what you are reading: Is the author
right or wrong?
I heard that the safest way to study and learn from books is
to read books that are onlyu published by our publication houses.
This is unfortunate. Knowing the rules that govern successful study,
you don’t have to limit reading books that is, limiting what you are reading
by books publoished by our group/heritage. Whatever book we read,
we will always apoply the third rule that is, evaluating what you are reading
to know whether the author is right or wrong. This rule will even
apply to our own books. We also need to evaluate whether the author
is teaching us a sound doctrine or has already departed from God’s pure
Word. We never accept infalliability and this applies even to the
brethren.
Another application of this rule would be the eradication fo
the belief that it is the AGE of the person that should determine who possesses
the truth. The Bible says in Psalm 119:100 that there could be times
that the younger ones have clearer understanding than the elders (not referring
to the Elders of the church although this would not be impossible) ESPECIALLY
when the younger ones are the ones obeying God’s law. However, this
does not mean we should not honor them as older people. We may disagree
with those who are much older that us, more especailly in the interpretration
of God’s Word but our respect to them should be kept intact.
Conclusion:
There would be no order to our private world when our minds are
not renewed on a daily basis. And there would never be renewal of
the mind when we forsake the habit of diligent study. Our habit of
diligent study should be guided by the rules that govern successful study.
