Living in Increase (Part 1) - Increase in UnderstandingSample

For the Purpose of Teaching

Did you know there is an estimated $70 million in counterfeit money in circulation? And often, the only people who can spot fake copies are experts.

The experts who detect counterfeit money become experts not by studying all the fake bills but by studying the real dollars. I’m sure they stay up to date on the latest techniques and technology, but there is no way to learn every counterfeit, especially since they are constantly evolving. Studying the real thing is the only way to detect the fake.

The Bible was written by humans under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who is God (2 Timothy 3:16). In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he tells Timothy that Scripture is beneficial for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16). In this same letter, the Apostle tells Timothy that “the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3). In other words, people who are in deception will want to hear false doctrines because it makes them feel good. Perhaps this isn’t their conscious intention when looking for information. They may not intentionally seek out teachers who teach false doctrine (who would?). The reality is that when someone isn’t studying the real thing, he can’t possibly determine what’s fake.

Not all people are teachers, nor should they be. In fact, James says, “Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). However, we can be sure always to trust the Word of God because it was created, in part, for teaching! We need to know the story of the Bible and know the truth. First and foremost, we need to know this because it is God’s truth, and God’s truth always edifies us and never puts us to shame. We also need to know the truth to identify the counterfeit. In a time when we have access to more information than ever, we have to be vigilant about filtering what “truth” we allow in our minds. We do this by studying God’s Word and allowing it to teach us the truth.

It can seem like a daunting task, trying to understand God’s Word. If you feel this way, you are not alone! I know all about that uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach when the text for the sermon is in a book of the Bible that you haven’t studied that much. Is it in the Old Testament? Wait… Is it before or after Psalms? Then, you flip and flip and start to get nervous that someone might see that you don’t know where this Book is in the Bible. Many of us use our phones, so we don’t even have to remember the order. All we have to do is search for it!

The good news is that God wants you to succeed in knowing His Word. That doesn’t mean we don’t put forth the effort, but we have a not-so-secret weapon by the Holy Spirit that makes it easier to understand. Invest time and effort into loving and learning Scripture; this effort will not come back void. That’s a guarantee! There are no benchwarmers in our faith; there are only servants. Gone are the days of passive learning. Find a strategy, practice it, and stick with it. Whatever you do, get in the game.

As always, be encouraged. Come close to God, and He will come close to you (James 4:8)!

Ruby Washington

Action Step: Say this prayer: God, lead me to the right people and resources to increase my knowledge of You. Please help me identify the counterfeit. Lord, I ask for understanding, not to become puffed up, but the knowledge that leads to a greater love for You. If I encounter a counterfeit, let my instinct always be to pray before speaking. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.