I pulled the plug on the business of the church over the last two weeks and enjoyed working around the house and spending time with my family hiking and camping! After the first 3 days of feeling awkward I began to get a rhythm of enjoying my mental space. I don’t know about you, but the older I get the more I realize my need for process time – times to read God’s Word, mental conversations with God (prayer), and just silence in general. When those times don’t exist or have long intervals between them; I begin to fray around the edges. What does it mean to “fray around the edges?” It is when I begin to “do” Christian things instead of “being” a friend of Jesus. I know I am “fraying” when I begin to approach truth issues primarily in regard to how I might teach a particular truth to others rather than meditating on how I can apply it to my life first.
It is these two indicators help me take a life-survey and are the front line issues that reveal when I am beginning to fray around the edges.
Question:
Are there signs or indicators in your life that reveal unbalanced living?
Haloween Funny:
Two nuns were driving through Transylvania when all of a sudden Dracula appeared in front of them causing them to make a sudden stop!
One of the nuns says to the other one, “Quick show him your Cross!”
So the other nun winds down the car window and yells, “Get out of the way you toothy moron!”
I can usually tell that I am beginning to fray around the edges when I start telling really bad jokes …
Question for you though, how much is the tendency to apply what you are learning from Scripture to others first an aspect of being a teacher (or just having the mindset/gift of teaching)?
I have that same struggle where I often see things I could teach or additional ammunition for an argument before I find the word speaking to myself. It seems like that is the reverse of how it should be, but I often have to concentrate to make sure I apply it to myself in addition to how I can use it with others. I am sure part of that is a sin issue, where I don’t want to see what is wrong with myself, but I do not know if that is the whole of it. Part of it seems to be my own critical/logical mindset. Do you have any advice for how to keep the proper balance in a devotional life?
As far as other areas where I can tell that I am fraying on the edges, I can usually tell when I start becoming short tempered with other people. The more easily I get frustrated with the smaller things in life, the more likely that I am living in my own power rather than relying on Christ.
“How much is the tendency to apply what you are learning from Scripture to others first an aspect of being a teacher (or just having the mindset/gift of teaching)?”
I think it is very natural tendency. But, I think therein lies the problem. I am spiritually bent toward that and so I can excuse it more easily. My strength in excess can become my weakness in its execution. When I, or anyone else for that matter, lose balance, even in good things, I can be harmed and harm others. I think focus and discipline are hugely underdeveloped in the unfolding of a message. I say underdeveloped because I can find myself immersed in how this relates to the people at Grace too much. I must focus and discipline myself to take the needed time to examine what is the truth being expressed. Then, apply it to my desires and habits, and only then am I really able to freely express that truth to others.
However, if I do not do this, I begin to develop a crusty approach to preaching that will eventually lead me to being hardened in my heart (e.g., the Pharisees).
All of this takes focus and discipline (huge blocks of time!), and I wrestle with this weekly.
One more thing… This idea – learning at the expense of living, is why I maintain that a teacher must cultivate a devotional/meditation cycle apart from preparing for a message. I have had rather sharp disagreements with people who maintain that their teaching focus is their devotional life. I think that is dangerous because it has a tendency to create a one-way mentality (i.e. how I can teach this). I understand the utility aspect of saving time, but I disagree due the natural bent to produce rather than abide.