Good versus Excellent

Don't get the cart before the horse.

     ...yet shew I [Paul] unto you a more excellent way.  Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. [1 Corinthians 12:31b; 2 Timothy 2:7]


A sister-in-the-Lord recently wrote: 

     "There are so few who want to hear anything outside of their [religious] comfort zone.  I just had a friend say that maybe it was selfish to spend so much time studying [the bible] rather than helping people.  I fear her church must be getting into the Social Gospel like so many others."

Hmmm...maybe this sister should have then asked her friend which of the two God might think was more important: studying the Word so as to be approved unto God or helping others in their physical needs?  Studying--as He tells us to do in scripture so that we, after being saved, come to the knowledge of the truth so as to perform our God-ordained vocation of being His ambassadors*?  Or, simply applying a band-aid on their physical/social  needs/problems...as they march on toward Hell without hearing and accepting the saving gospel of grace, as revealed to our apostle Paul by the Risen, Ascended Lord Jesus Christ, Himself.  (A gospel, by the way, that the vast majoirty of christendom fails to 'see' was NEVER preached by Jesus in His earth, nor were the 12 Apostles given it to preach.  ...but that's a topic for another time. )

Well, the answer is both!   Good works are good...and we are to do them.  But, in order to be effective and God-honoring in our good works we must apply ourselves to studying and preparing ourselves for the task at hand...by the renewing our mind, day by day [Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:6].  Without the Spirit's leading, we are walking in the flesh.  (Who would want to go to a physician for what ails them that didn't first do the required book work?) As my grandmother used to say: Let's not get the cart before the horse.

Many are well-meaning but, without studying the Word rightly divided, we are not equipped by God unto all good works.  We are not minding the things of the Spirit; rather we are walking in the flesh.   And we know from studying the scriptures that...in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.  [Romans 7:18]

Therefore, let us...Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Why? Because ...All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  [2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17]
 
Oh, and one more thing.  Why does any student study?  Because there is going to be a test!  Scripture speaks of a testing by fire: one where the student will emerge with the reward or suffer loss.

Granted,... much study is a weariness [work] of the flesh. [Ecclesiastes 12:12]  But, remember there is coming that Day when...Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.   [1 Corinthians 3:13-15]
  
...better get studying for the Test of all tests!  It'll be here before we know it!!
 

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*  2 Corinthians 5:19-21

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we [as members of the Body of Christ] are ambassadors for Christ...

[AMBASSADOR:  diplomatic representative: a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another]