Proverbs 23:12 (NIV)
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
The late French philosopher Jacques Derrida was known for the postmodern philosophical approach known as deconstructionism. He is not the easiest person to read.
In a documentary on his life and thinking, Derrida led the interviewer through a tour of his library. It was about the size of a gym. Awed at the sheer magnitude of the size of the collection, the interviewer asked the obligatory question at such a moment, "So, have you read all these books?"
Derrida wryly replied, "No, but I have read two of them really, really well."
After all, a philosopher is one who "philo" (loves) "sophia" (wisdom).
We live in an age where mastery of informational knowledge is prized over all. More is better. Faster is smarter. Information is power. Who knows the most is the smartest.
If we read the above proverb through the lens of today's information ethos, it will yield a completely different meaning than the wisdom writer intends.
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
In our day, we tend to collect bits – lots of bits – of information. We read short articles, some of us read longer articles and books. I read a lot of different types of literature. There is something seductive about referring to as being a "well-read" person.
I want to think about Derrida's approach. "So have you read all these books?"
"No, but I have read two of them really, really well."
I know some people who are faithful in reading the Bible one year, or who jump all over the place in their scripture reading.
It’s good to read the whole bible. But remember the goal is to "apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
To do this implies a kind of slowly paced living with the text, a long and lingering relationship with the words, spending time soaking in the meaning. We can’t do that, if the main goal is to get through the Bible in a year.
Let me give us an example, Jesus said,
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you (John 15:12).
How can we apply our hearts to this tiny bit of instruction to open our ears fully to this word of knowledge?
What if I decided I would give myself until next year to read the Gospel of John…really, really well?
And what if I started by thinking, and praying, and journalling about these eight words every day:
"Love each other as I have loved you."
The entire scope of the meaning of life can be summarized in five of these eight words: "As I have loved you."
Our chief calling and highest ambition is learning to understand and appropriate and creatively living out the meaning of these five words: "As I have loved you."
Imagine one day Jesus asking you this question, "So, my friend, have you read every word of the entire book of the Bible?" And, what if you replied, "No, but I have read one verse really, really well."
PRAYER
Abba Father, I want to apply my heart to instruction and my ears to words of knowledge. I confess I am both distracted and well-intentioned. I need a new way, one empowered by your Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.
PROMPTS
- What do you think of this approach to reading, perhaps fewer things, really, really well?
- What have been your Bible-reading habits and practices over the course of the last year?
- Have you ever read a book of the Bible really, really well?
What was the impact?
If you haven't, why not give it a try?
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