These essays are written in sequence and build on each other. Read the preceding essay here.
In the previous essay I posited that most of the challenges we face in uncovering the deep knowledge in the Word of Christ stem from two deficiencies: insufficient humility, and self-serving tendencies.
In that essay we discussed what is meant by insufficient humility.
Let us now explore the issue of selfish interpretation.
Self-Serving Interpretations of The Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
— KJV, John 1:1
The Word is eternal and unchanging, while the human being continues to grow and evolve.
That is to say: The Word Is, while human beings are becoming.
Our spiritual deadening came about due to our turning away from God and our focus on materialism.
The Word is an eternal spiritual gift given to us for us to “eat” (absorb) to regain spiritual life. Digesting The Word in its true sense is only possible when we approach it with a spiritual mindset i.e. with a humble desire for inner self-improvement devoid of any temporal material objectives.
My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
— John 6:32
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,
and giveth life unto the world.
We must distinguish between core spiritual objectives and material side effects.
The Word is not given to “motivate” us for material success, or to give us strategies and ideas for material gain, or to solve material problems, or to generally help us feel good in the earthly sense. These are side effects that may (or may not!) occur in a natural way after a level of spiritual purification has been achieved i.e. after we have begun to absorb The Word.
We must avoid putting the cart before the horse.
In fact, it is understanding of The Word (i.e. spiritual maturity) that allows us to properly define what true material comfort is, and how we are to live in an earthly sense.
Therefore take no thought, saying,
— Matt 6:31-33
What shall we eat? or,
What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
There must be no other priorities beside the honest spiritual understanding of The Word. All else will emerge naturally from this.
Part of what makes this difficult is that spiritual understanding is not a function of mere reading. It arises from living The Word.
We must get to the level where our material goals are defined by our understanding of The Word, rather than our preexisting materialistic inclinations:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
— Matt 13:45-46
seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
All this is not easy. In fact it can be quite uncomfortable, sometimes causing conflict within oneself or with others.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:
— Matt 10:34
I came not to send peace,
but a sword.
Today’s Resolution
- We shall remind ourselves that our goal is to become more spiritual and less materialistic, and that this is why the gift of the Word was given.
The Word, (Re)Discovered 