6 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Joshua 12-13
Psalms 145
Jeremiah 6
Matthew 20
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Matthew 20:25–28 (CSB): “Jesus called them over and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
There is much that can be learned outside the pages of Scripture.
For instance, you cannot learn how to successfully operate on a human being in the pages of Scripture (unless it’s God removing a rib in Genesis 2:21-22). You cannot learn how to drive a car, or build a stadium, or fix a stove. It’s obvious that the Bible was never intended to be the only book we read and consult. There are many competencies that we can only learn from other sources.
Yet, the Bible should be read, understand, and memorized because it should be the script running in the background as we consult other sources. As we learn other competencies outside of the pages of Scripture, our knowledge of God’s truth will allow us to properly interpret everything we are learning.
That being said, it bothers me greatly that many Christian leaders seem to spend more time reading and mastering leadership skills that they learn from unbelievers than looking at the pages of Scripture. I’ve attended leadership seminars and taken leadership courses that claimed to be “Christian” and yet the textbooks and references were primarily from successful corporate leaders who claimed no allegiance to Christianity.
Can we learn leadership skills from non-believers? Of course, we can. Be we must be so familiar with Scripture that we are able to filter what we learn from non-believers through the sieve of biblical truth.
Why?
Because secular leadership principles have generally focused on power, privileges, rights, and so forth. Biblical leadership principles focus on service, sacrifice, love, and so forth.
Secular leadership tends to be for the benefit of the leader. Biblical leadership tends to be for the benefit of those who are led.
Matthew 20:25–28 (CSB): “Jesus called them over and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
So, when you seek to learn a skill that is not explicitly (or completely) taught in Scripture, then look to secular sources to learn what you need to know. But, realize that you need to know your Bible so well that you can filter everything you hear or read through the truth of the Bible.
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Lord Jesus, I want to know Your Word so well that everything I observe can be filtered through the sieve of divine truth. I want not only my actions but even my thoughts to be taken captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). I realize that well-meaning unbelievers can propagate principles or practices that are opposed to what You desire. I absolutely must filter everything through Your Word. So, help me as I continue the work of developing a biblical mind by spending much time in my Bible. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 