I get your point (Bible study should be most of all about interacting with God). I just would not have drawn the contrast you did in the headline. Bible study is hugely important, and so are the many lessons to be learned. God means for us to learn them. Would Jesus have stated this the way you did? Better, did he state it this way? That said, Bible study is about interacting with God.
Thanks for interacting with this thought, Brian. I'm a firm believer in the value of Bible study. The tricky bit is that sometimes we make studying the Bible is the goal and fail to focus our primary attention in the text on Him.
Hopefully, my heart for the ineffable value of Scripture is evident in the way I've devoted myself to studying and telling its stories. I simply want to call us to introspection regarding the object of our attention as we interact with these texts. If, as you've said, one's Bible study is about interacting with God, wonderful. If, on the other hand, one's Bible study drifts (as mine has at times in my life) toward moralism or intellectualism or any number of other potential sidetracks, my recommendation would be a humble adjustment—a seeking of His face in the midst of His stories, laws, etc. This is why I'm a fan of Scripture-prompted meditation (a lá Psalm 1)—I think it has a way of keeping us on track.
Why push a bit on one side and not the other? Simply that—in my circles at least—there's a lot more Bible study than there is meditation.
I certainly can't speak to how Jesus would state my thought, but I do think of the way He challenged those who had managed to place a high value on Bible study, but were missing the main event in the text:
To the Jewish leaders, "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40) And to the Saducees, who were quoting the Bible to Him, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)
My statement ("Paying attention to God is better than Bible study.") is, of course, inherently incomplete. But alas, such is language. Ranking priorities, however, is an important exercise. And making something first priority doesn't negate the value of a priority that's next in line.
Thank you for your reply. I will definitely be more motivated to make my study meditative on God, His heart, and His mind. Bible is not just about knowledge; it’s about knowing Him.
I get your point (Bible study should be most of all about interacting with God). I just would not have drawn the contrast you did in the headline. Bible study is hugely important, and so are the many lessons to be learned. God means for us to learn them. Would Jesus have stated this the way you did? Better, did he state it this way? That said, Bible study is about interacting with God.
Thanks for interacting with this thought, Brian. I'm a firm believer in the value of Bible study. The tricky bit is that sometimes we make studying the Bible is the goal and fail to focus our primary attention in the text on Him.
Hopefully, my heart for the ineffable value of Scripture is evident in the way I've devoted myself to studying and telling its stories. I simply want to call us to introspection regarding the object of our attention as we interact with these texts. If, as you've said, one's Bible study is about interacting with God, wonderful. If, on the other hand, one's Bible study drifts (as mine has at times in my life) toward moralism or intellectualism or any number of other potential sidetracks, my recommendation would be a humble adjustment—a seeking of His face in the midst of His stories, laws, etc. This is why I'm a fan of Scripture-prompted meditation (a lá Psalm 1)—I think it has a way of keeping us on track.
Why push a bit on one side and not the other? Simply that—in my circles at least—there's a lot more Bible study than there is meditation.
I certainly can't speak to how Jesus would state my thought, but I do think of the way He challenged those who had managed to place a high value on Bible study, but were missing the main event in the text:
To the Jewish leaders, "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40) And to the Saducees, who were quoting the Bible to Him, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)
My statement ("Paying attention to God is better than Bible study.") is, of course, inherently incomplete. But alas, such is language. Ranking priorities, however, is an important exercise. And making something first priority doesn't negate the value of a priority that's next in line.
Thank you for your reply. I will definitely be more motivated to make my study meditative on God, His heart, and His mind. Bible is not just about knowledge; it’s about knowing Him.
Hear, hear!