My latest display of insanity is my conceding to the pleas of an online friend to audit a seminary class in Greek that she is taking for credit. Believe me, there have been a lot of times when I wished wholeheartedly that I'd refused. Once, I told her "I'm quitting" and she persuaded me to continue. My hours for study have become the wee hours of the night when I'm not distracted by friends trying to get my attention or by phone calls or family needs. Last night (Thursday early AM) I studied for 3 hours....and I was really kind of getting 'into it' and was enjoying it. Of course there are times when I despair of ever mastering the language...In fact it would be foolish for me to expect to master a difficult language like New Testament Greek based solely on online teaching. The purpose of my studying this is not to be able to converse but to be able to read the New Testament in Greek.
I am not going at nearly the speed as my friend's online class is proceeding. They are on Chapter 4 and I am still on chapter 1. The introduction took me an inordinate amount of time and work as it involved learning the alphabet (which uses Greek letters), their pronunciations, diphthongs, vowels, breathing marks, accents, and rules that are particular to certain letters. So all of that took me a week or two. Finally I got to the point where --although I still have to pause and remember certain letters--I felt that progressing to the first chapter was possible. The thing that is slowing me now is not so much the parsing of verbs and learning the present indicative...but rather a longish list of vocabulary words.
I am finding that in learning this new language the thing that I'm finding most helpful is not my studies in English grammar, but rather, my studies in the Spanish language (I studied Spanish for 11 years). Learning the gazillions of tenses and verb conjugations in that language have made it easier for me to learn them in Greek.
Anyway, why am I telling you this? Because there is something I want to work out in my own mind and maybe taking you along for the ride might be helpful, to myself or possibly to you also.
Yesterday I read an article by David Mathis entitled "Laziness is Profoundly Unchristian." (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/laziness-is-profoundly-unchristian?utm_campaign=Daily+Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77228044&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8QK_llHgRUvveTMvkvZPK4YMlnjOMykgY-cKFK0oANkkIEyy01hxROpuKm4EdgQOpQxRrW1IL_e2oC9QHOizTM3CzcxWoDyqkZBnUcVd4fktfOlvk&_hsmi=77228044
Laziness is something I regularly accuse myself of. But I find, when I try to get active or to undertake some task, I discover that I am capable of almost NOTHING that involves using my body in any manner. Pain is just too much of a roadblock. So most of my tasks that I involve myself in these days are mental. Such as prayer, mentoring younger women in the faith, memorizing the book of James, and now, learning Greek.
Can it be said that these tasks are inherently active, beneficial, and pleasing to God? Do they, in any manner, combat the devil of laziness? Should I stop accusing myself of sloth? Specifically, does studying Greek have benefit that extends beyond the learning of a new skill or filling up empty hours? Does it matter what one does with their time as long as they occupy it with some mental or physical activity? Does it matter WHAT activity I choose? Are some inherently more beneficial than others?
Well if I was to fill my time with watching porn movies or even "normal" rated R movies then that might make the answer to my question a little more clear. But really, how does one determine what is laudable and what is shameful or merely wasteful of the gift of time that God has allotted to us on Earth?
I do think that to partially answer this question, we need to analyze the benefit of learning Greek -I will ask several questions:
1) is learning Greek a good use of time?
2) how will it benefit me spiritually? Intellectually?
3) To what degree are we responsible for utilizing and preserving our mental faculties?
4) and does it matter in what way we go about doing that? eg: would studying mathematics be equally beneficial in the eyes of God?
5) is there some kind of a manner by which we might list or categorize the benefit of tasks?
6) Are some tasks holier than others?
What does Scripture have to say about this?
What does that mean?I think it means we can't or shouldn't put things off (work, planning, knowledge or wisdom) until the future because death comes, often, by surprise and then it will be too late to accomplish anything. That brings about the question as to whether or not our skills, talents, endeavors, follow us into eternity or whether they leave lingering benefit on earth, either in the hearts and minds of those who knew us -- or whether or not there is some kind of inherent impact on the Earth that will also benefit us in Heaven. It also means that the issue of the quality of our work comes into play. God has repeatedly stressed in Scripture the importance of "wholeheartedness"--doing something zealously to the best of our ability and making the best possible use of our resources.
I do believe that God will evaluate the manner in which we used our time on Earth. He will evaluate how we used the assets he gave us (Mind, body, health, time, relationships, wealth) in our life time. Are we equally responsible to attend to each of these across the board? Or are we only liable for that which we have the strength, or resources to accomplish?
I have deliberately left the majority of my questions here unanswered, because I want YOU to think about them. I can tell you what I think but maybe it would be more valuable to you if you erase my question regarding Greek and replaced it with your current practice of working out and developing your body. Or maybe being in college studying philosophy...or following a specific diet with the goal of improving your health and appearance.
I think about the Greek lessons. It is not likely that I will come to the point of completely mastery of the language....or even if I did, how on earth would I make use of it? BUT. BUT GOD--may have something in mind for me that is beyond my dreams, beyond my current realm of possibility....and the best thing I can do to prepare for that is to study "with all (my) might"---even if it is to further my study of Scripture and to use my learning to counsel and bless others.
How do we choose the manner in which we use our skills and time? The verse above in Ecclesiastes says "Whatever your hand finds to do." And I think there are other translations that say something to the effect of "Whatever comes before you to do...do it with your whole heart" I don't believe in accidents. Or in coincidence. This opportunity to learn the Greek language was not a random event in my life. What comes before me to do was PUT there by God. (of course there are opportunities to sin also....but we need to use our discretion in evaluating whether it is providential or temptation). It is up to me to use this task and turn it to blessing.
Of course if your lawn needs to be mowed, you ought to attend to that before sitting down to study Greek. Use of our time is a skill that takes some consideration and prayer. When does obligation turn from necessary to diversionary? Assess before you progress. :)
I hope this list of questions gets you to thinking and to assessing your gifts of time, health, strength, wealth. And I hope it helps you the next time you decide to waste some precious time.
I am not going at nearly the speed as my friend's online class is proceeding. They are on Chapter 4 and I am still on chapter 1. The introduction took me an inordinate amount of time and work as it involved learning the alphabet (which uses Greek letters), their pronunciations, diphthongs, vowels, breathing marks, accents, and rules that are particular to certain letters. So all of that took me a week or two. Finally I got to the point where --although I still have to pause and remember certain letters--I felt that progressing to the first chapter was possible. The thing that is slowing me now is not so much the parsing of verbs and learning the present indicative...but rather a longish list of vocabulary words.
I am finding that in learning this new language the thing that I'm finding most helpful is not my studies in English grammar, but rather, my studies in the Spanish language (I studied Spanish for 11 years). Learning the gazillions of tenses and verb conjugations in that language have made it easier for me to learn them in Greek.
Anyway, why am I telling you this? Because there is something I want to work out in my own mind and maybe taking you along for the ride might be helpful, to myself or possibly to you also.
Yesterday I read an article by David Mathis entitled "Laziness is Profoundly Unchristian." (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/laziness-is-profoundly-unchristian?utm_campaign=Daily+Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77228044&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8QK_llHgRUvveTMvkvZPK4YMlnjOMykgY-cKFK0oANkkIEyy01hxROpuKm4EdgQOpQxRrW1IL_e2oC9QHOizTM3CzcxWoDyqkZBnUcVd4fktfOlvk&_hsmi=77228044
Laziness is something I regularly accuse myself of. But I find, when I try to get active or to undertake some task, I discover that I am capable of almost NOTHING that involves using my body in any manner. Pain is just too much of a roadblock. So most of my tasks that I involve myself in these days are mental. Such as prayer, mentoring younger women in the faith, memorizing the book of James, and now, learning Greek.
Can it be said that these tasks are inherently active, beneficial, and pleasing to God? Do they, in any manner, combat the devil of laziness? Should I stop accusing myself of sloth? Specifically, does studying Greek have benefit that extends beyond the learning of a new skill or filling up empty hours? Does it matter what one does with their time as long as they occupy it with some mental or physical activity? Does it matter WHAT activity I choose? Are some inherently more beneficial than others?
Well if I was to fill my time with watching porn movies or even "normal" rated R movies then that might make the answer to my question a little more clear. But really, how does one determine what is laudable and what is shameful or merely wasteful of the gift of time that God has allotted to us on Earth?
I do think that to partially answer this question, we need to analyze the benefit of learning Greek -I will ask several questions:
1) is learning Greek a good use of time?
2) how will it benefit me spiritually? Intellectually?
3) To what degree are we responsible for utilizing and preserving our mental faculties?
4) and does it matter in what way we go about doing that? eg: would studying mathematics be equally beneficial in the eyes of God?
5) is there some kind of a manner by which we might list or categorize the benefit of tasks?
6) Are some tasks holier than others?
What does Scripture have to say about this?
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. Ecc.9:10
Maybe the NLT translation will throw more light on this:
"Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."
What does that mean?I think it means we can't or shouldn't put things off (work, planning, knowledge or wisdom) until the future because death comes, often, by surprise and then it will be too late to accomplish anything. That brings about the question as to whether or not our skills, talents, endeavors, follow us into eternity or whether they leave lingering benefit on earth, either in the hearts and minds of those who knew us -- or whether or not there is some kind of inherent impact on the Earth that will also benefit us in Heaven. It also means that the issue of the quality of our work comes into play. God has repeatedly stressed in Scripture the importance of "wholeheartedness"--doing something zealously to the best of our ability and making the best possible use of our resources.
I do believe that God will evaluate the manner in which we used our time on Earth. He will evaluate how we used the assets he gave us (Mind, body, health, time, relationships, wealth) in our life time. Are we equally responsible to attend to each of these across the board? Or are we only liable for that which we have the strength, or resources to accomplish?
I have deliberately left the majority of my questions here unanswered, because I want YOU to think about them. I can tell you what I think but maybe it would be more valuable to you if you erase my question regarding Greek and replaced it with your current practice of working out and developing your body. Or maybe being in college studying philosophy...or following a specific diet with the goal of improving your health and appearance.
I think about the Greek lessons. It is not likely that I will come to the point of completely mastery of the language....or even if I did, how on earth would I make use of it? BUT. BUT GOD--may have something in mind for me that is beyond my dreams, beyond my current realm of possibility....and the best thing I can do to prepare for that is to study "with all (my) might"---even if it is to further my study of Scripture and to use my learning to counsel and bless others.
How do we choose the manner in which we use our skills and time? The verse above in Ecclesiastes says "Whatever your hand finds to do." And I think there are other translations that say something to the effect of "Whatever comes before you to do...do it with your whole heart" I don't believe in accidents. Or in coincidence. This opportunity to learn the Greek language was not a random event in my life. What comes before me to do was PUT there by God. (of course there are opportunities to sin also....but we need to use our discretion in evaluating whether it is providential or temptation). It is up to me to use this task and turn it to blessing.
Of course if your lawn needs to be mowed, you ought to attend to that before sitting down to study Greek. Use of our time is a skill that takes some consideration and prayer. When does obligation turn from necessary to diversionary? Assess before you progress. :)
I hope this list of questions gets you to thinking and to assessing your gifts of time, health, strength, wealth. And I hope it helps you the next time you decide to waste some precious time.
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