Copy and Paste from Word

I finally sat down and read another chapter of the book Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp. I know I know it seems like I will never get through this one. Anyway, one of the points Tripp makes goes along with one of my previous posts or at least the end of that post where I rant about "this is my world and everyone else is just living in it" attitude.

In the second chapter of this book he makes the argument that most Christians really do not understand what the Bible is and what we're supposed to do with it especially in regards to ministering to others. He basically boils it down to say that we most often will use a command, principle, or promise to fit the moment. This approach he describes as copy and paste from Word. He goes on to say...

"This kind of ministry rarely leads to lasting change because it does not bring the power of the Word to the places where change is really needed. In this kind of ministry, self is still at the center, personal need is the focus, and personal happiness remains the goal. But a truly effective ministry of the Word must confront our self-focus and self-absorption at its roots, opening us up to the vastness of a God-defined, God-centered world. Unless this happens, we will use the promises, principles, and commands of the Word to serve the thing we really love: ourselves. This may be why many people read and hear God's Word regularly while their lives remain unchanged. Only when the rain of the Word penetrates the roots of the problem does lasting change occur."

He follows this quote up by explaining that we need the over arching themes of the Bible to properly understand and apply those principles and promises. You know, the ones that we love to hand out as if they were some type of spiritual fortune cookies. Tripp then ends the chapter with a story to describe the last theme of glory. It is a cute little story about a boy at a birthday party who is mad because he doesn't have all the gifts around him and he doesn't have all the attention. It is not even his birthday party. And before he ruins the party for everyone else he is quickly reminded. The point is that this life we call our own is really not our own. It is not our party. And it is not our world. It is His and we're just living in it.