On the wall at the end of the breakfast table at home, is a rack of various spices in customized bottles—all thirty of them. It’s a collection of spices that was already there when we moved into the house. I am familiar with some of the spices. But there are quite a few that I never heard of before.
Only five bottles show evidence that their contents have been used—they’re about half empty. The rest of the bottles are still quite full, most of them appear to be totally untouched. In other words, this collection of spices is more decorative than functional.
But spices are meant to be mixed into food in order to add flavor. No matter how savory and tasty spices may be, they are worthless sitting on a shelf. They are meant to be used, not just collected for decoration.
This got me to thinking about another kind of collection. Followers of Jesus are expected, among other things, to grow in their knowledge of Christ and of his teachings. The primary resource for this task is Scripture. As the apostle Paul reminds us, Scripture is “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16 NIV). When we submit to instruction or engage in the study of the Word, we will gain a growing “collection” of biblical teaching that we agree with. We may even have a growing collection of memorized verses that we can quote at will. Our knowledge may make us impressive in the eyes of fellow believers.
Yet the Bible is clear that the instructions and commandments that we receive are to be “mixed” into life in order to apply their transforming effect there. The purpose of the teaching of Scripture is “that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3.17 NET). It is not enough to have vast biblical knowledge, or even to agree with biblical truth. Jesus tells his disciples: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7.24 NIV). The apostle Paul urges fellow-disciples: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice” (Philippians 4.9 NIV). And James instructs us: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1.22–23 NLT).
No matter how much biblical knowledge we have collected, no matter how much we agree with biblical truth, they are worthless if left sitting on the “shelf” of our minds. A fancy collection of biblical teaching will not do anyone any good if the Word is not lived out.
—Keith Jainga