Our Highest Priority

I recently observed an unfortunate reality that seems to be a growing phenomenon in the contemporary church. We went to a “ministry leaders” meeting. The auditorium was filled with home group leaders and others. The gathering was divided up into tables of 5-10 leaders. During the time of corporate discussion intended to establish what our priorities in ministry to others should be, each table was to discover together the importance of a variety of spiritual and ministry ideas. We talked about inreach and outreach, about the needs of our city and church, about how to build relationship with the lost and the saved, and many other ministerial concepts. But the one thing the Scriptures demonstrate over and over again as God’s highest priority for His children was never even mentioned – the importance of being taught the Word of God.

I would have said that this was a given and that perhaps it was simply assumed by everyone that it was occurring, but I don’t believe that is the case. Whether from the pulpit or in home groups, the Bible isn’t actually taught, it’s simply used as a springboard to deliver messages of practical application to the realities of the daily grind. There is a vast difference between being instructed in the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and hearing the latest Biblical theories on outreach, marriage, suffering, joy, the victorious Christian life or whatever.

I honestly believe, as harsh as this sounds, that the contemporary church no longer understands what “teaching” is. They understand what preaching, sharing, messages, sermons, etc. are, but teaching, as it was done in the Bible, and as it has been done throughout history in healthy churches, is not only absent, but undesired. If someone actually did systematically and faithfully “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and teach something (say, Ecclesiology), most would be bored out of their minds and demand that this sort of thing remain in seminaries where it belongs. There is no longer an understanding of why it’s important, of why there can be no real spiritual maturity without it, and of what needs to happen to restore real depth and integrity to the Body of Christ through it’s recovery. Satan has done an incredibly good job of holding the church in spiritual infancy by taking away her number one priority and replacing it with a thousand reasonable distractions.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.

“Only one thing” is another way of saying, “This is your highest priority”.

Peter reiterated this truth in Acts 6:1-3;

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, "It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, which we may appoint over this business".

Teaching trumps service.

At least it did for the Apostles who were trained under the ministry of Christ. Whether we look at Moses, the prophets, Jesus, or the apostles, it is apparent from Scripture that Scripture is to be the most important thing in our lives. It is through the Word of God that we come to know Him and come to understand what this is all about.

Why would God make His Word the highest priority for us? Why would this be more important than anything else and why has Satan labored so hard to remove or redefine teaching from our churches?

First is the issue of recovery. After the fall, man in rebellion sought independence from God. Man’s authority was made supreme and God’s authority was set aside. In recovery God must once again bring man back to a place of submission, both in his nature and in his behavior. So, from Abraham to Moses to the apostles, the Lord has established representative authority among His people. Those who submitted to this authority grew spiritually and were blessed just as those who rebelled were cursed (Numbers 16; 2 Chronicles 10; 2 Corinthians 10:8).

We learn under authority, both for the sake of unity, clarity and consistency, and for the sake of developing the character of humility and teachability. The word “disciple” (mathetes) means “student” or “learner” and that is what we must be first - before anything else.

Remember those who have authority over you, who have taught you the Word of God . . . Obey those who have authority over you, and submit yourselves.
(Hebrews 13:7, 17).

Next, as shown consistently in the Bible, it’s our minds, our thinking, which determines the success (or failure) of our spiritual life and growth. In Romans 12:2Paul tells us that we must be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Jesus is much less concerned about the outside of our cups than He is about the inside. If the inside is renewed and cleansed by the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) the outside will take care of itself.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
(1 Samuel 16:7).

If we grow spiritually to become like Christ, seeing life as He does, we will be able to do His will in all things, both inwardly and outwardly. Spiritual service must come from within if it’s to be real. It must be based on who we are, not simply on what we do. If it’s based on observance to commandments on tablets of stone its religion not spiritual life – not the expression of the life of Christ within us.

We are constantly on a stretch, if not a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man, or sink the man, in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. (E.M. Bounds)

God will never put work or service in the place of character; and if we do that, eternity will reveal that however much we may have done, we are very small among the inhabitants of the Land, whose stature will be measured by the measure of Christ. . . the ultimate test is not how much work is done, but how much of Christ is present. (T.A. Sparks)

Again, learning trumps service. Now we know why.

All spiritual advance has the study of Scripture as its foundation. There is no spiritual growth without it. And since our growth from infancy to maturity spiritually is the most important thing in our lives as followers of Christ, the study of His Word must be our highest personal priority.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for corrections, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect (mature), thoroughly equipped for all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

One final comment: Personal study is important (Acts 17:11) but coming under the authority of the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher is the only way to see the fulfillment of the principle of Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

First comes “the perfecting of the saints” then comes “the work of the ministry”. We have reversed those priorities. We serve in infancy (like Martha) and never reach spiritual maturity (like Mary) because we are too busy helping Jesus to sit down, stay still, and submit to the teaching of the Word.

Even if we did get our priorities straight and placed the teaching of God’s Word above everything else (Psalm 138:2, Proverbs 3:13-15) we have to know we are being taught not just messaged or sermoned. If we don’t know the difference nothing will change. Those whose authority we come under must be teaching what Paul calls “the full counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). We can’t come into spiritual maturity and fullness with only bits and pieces of God’s Word, even if those pieces are presented to us with great passion and creativity. If, as one commentator put it, we are only getting “sermonettes for Christianettes” (i.e. random topical messages and ‘series’), we will never be able to fully comprehend the life we have entered into in Christ.

The ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4b) must be recovered if the church is to move from division, infancy, defeat and confusion to fullness of life in Christ.