1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5 HUMILITY BEFORE GOD’S WORD
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
C.S. Lewis wrote about what we might call “generationalism.” He defined this attitude of snobbery as the belief that the present generation knows more about everything than the previous generations. This may be expressed in a patronizing approach to history with which we opine that all the resources were just not available to our ancestors for them to be able to come to a valid understanding of reality and truth. Much of this attitude is due to the magnificent advances we have made in science and medicine in that last 100 years. While these advances should be celebrated, we make a mistake when we color our thinking about previous generations by applying scientific progress as the measuring stick for evaluating history. In addition, the skepticism that is inherent and necessary for scientific investigation needs to be held in proper balance, especially in the realms of philosophy and religion. When we discount the “wisdom of the ages” because it does not fit our present day lifestyle and inclinations we are being conceited and dooming ourselves to repeating mistakes that could otherwise be avoided.
When it comes to the study of Scripture, we are to use our minds and the resources that God has provided for us as we seek to apply his message to our lives today. However, the key to proper understanding is a humble openness to the interpretations of those who have preceded us. When we reject the teaching of those who were temporally closer to the earthly life of Jesus, we are listening to the same voice that that seduced our first ancestors to doubt that God really meant what he had told them. Humble submission under the Word of God leads to unity and peace, while interpretive speculation and arrogant innovation lead to controversy and division. From a logical point of view, it is more than a little audacious to think that in 2 millennia no one else has ever gotten the interpretation of a particular passage of Scripture correct.
Fame, popularity and material benefit may accrue from innovation. However, these benefits last only as long as it takes for the next innovation to be articulated. In contrast, the spiritual benefits of humbling oneself before God’s Word and seeking the wisdom of the Spirit both now and throughout the ages are eternal.
O Lord, your Word contains all things necessary for a godly life and salvation. Help me not to ignore those who have gone before me along the path of obedience to your will. May I depend upon the unifying power of your Word in my life and community. Keep me from interpreting your Word in order to justify my desires rather than for the application of your truth to my life. Amen.