We live in an age of incredible blessing. There are so many resources at our fingertips with which to study God’s Word. There are books, videos, websites, audio programs, and a plethora of churches where we can find God’s Word taught and expounded. Each of us could fill our days watching and hearing God’s Word preached and never run out of programming.
Every one of us has the potential to know God in a deep and rewarding way. But don’t just listen to solid teaching. If you do that, you will go away not much different than you are today. The Word of God should not be background noise, something that plays throughout the day without ever penetrating any further than our ears (Ezekiel 33:31-32; Matthew 13:13-14). How dare we glance at the very Word of God with such casualness?
J. C. Ryle wrote, “Knowledge, not improved or employed, will only increase our condemnation at the last day.” If we do nothing with what we learn, what good is that knowledge? Unless our understanding of God changes the way we live, then our understanding is useless. Don’t just listen to what the Bible says or what a preacher points out in his sermon. Use what you learn to improve your spiritual walk and look more like Christ. Employ what you learn by changing your attitude, your activities, and your priorities.
Listening to God’s Word or uplifting music does not make one closer to God. It is only when we apply what we hear or read that we grow. Solomon said there is no end to books and learning (Ecclesiastes 12:12). We are so blessed that we could never exhaust all the wonderful teaching available to us. Still, if all that knowledge does nothing to change the way we live, then it is a worthless and futile pursuit. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake cannot save you. In contrast, knowledge might condemn you because the Lord will hold those with the most knowledge to the highest level of accountability (Luke 12:47-48).
In his short epistle, James spoke of one who looks in the mirror and then forgets what they look like as soon as they turn away from it (James 1:23-24). That’s the same principle as watching or listening to someone preach God’s Word and never letting it penetrate your heart (Matthew 13:20-22). We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). With so many opportunities to learn about our Savior and Lord, we must seize them and not squander such a blessing.
Don’t just listen to God’s Word. Let it get inside you, penetrating so deep that it gets into the marrow of your bones (Hebrews 4:12). We are called to make the most of every breath God grants to us (Ephesians 5:15-16). It is good and right to spend our time studying His Word and saturating our minds with His truth, but until it changes who we are, it is all a waste of time. Don’t waste your life by hearing without allowing what you hear to change you (Titus 1:16). Jesus said that when He gives an abundance to someone, much will be required of that person (Luke 12:48). The Lord is blessing us with an enormous wealth of resources to understand and apply His Word. What are we doing with them? Don’t just listen. Be obedient to the Word of the Lord (John 14:23).