Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Freedom Fellowship Church, in Indianola, has been hosting a weekly archery shoot, onced a week for the last coupe of years. They start up in late fall and continue into early fall. They do this to offer folks an opportunity to hone their skills prior to the season, offer fellowship and to give them a dose of Jesus in the process.
Pastor Rabe is an archery customer of mine, who over the past few years has become a friend and in many ways a mentor. He approached me a couple months ago and asked if I’d be willing to lend some expert assistance, as well as lead the opening devotion time. I accepted and this past Monday was our third week.
This past Monday, as I walked the line, analyzing the shooters, I heard my name mentioned in a comment. The comment was, “if it’s about archery, ask Scott, he knows everything.” My reply was something to the effect of, “not everything, it may be a lot, that I’m confident of, but not everything. I’m constantly seeking information, trying to learn, improve and grow. There are still a great many that have something to teach me.”
I appreciated the compliment and vote of confidence, but believe my response was the appropriate and, more importantly, the honest one. As I thought about it over the week, I began to see the importance of this understanding. As an archer and bowhunter, the moment I think I know it all, have done it all and there’s nothing more for me to learn, why bother? I will never attain that level, no one will. The truth is , there will always be someone better, someone whom we can learn from, new techniques, old ones revistited and changing technologies to keep up with. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying I don’t know, and seeking the answer. Better yet, it’s the only right course when that is the case.
I repeatedly tell the guys who come into the shop, “there is not a single person, myself included, who has or ever will, walk through that door, who would not benefit from instruction.” As, soon as you think you can, you’re done, stuck in the mire and any possibility for growth is halted until reality can check your ego.
Such is the case in our spiritual life, walk and growth. Knowledge is a slippery slope. It is necessary for growth and maturation, but many will accumulate enough head knowledge as to begin to believe that they have it all figured out. They’ll believe that they’ve arrived, situate themselves in the perceived superior position and fall into the self righteous, phariseeical mindset. What a dangerous snare to stumble into. This line of thought shuts down forward progress, stymies personal growth, as well as halts the work you should be doing for the Kingdom and opens you up to an onslaught from the enemy.
Humility is the order of the day. An understanding that you don’t and never will have it figured out is the only course. To believe otherwise is to walk in a belief that you are fit to go it alone, spurn others as unworthy of your time and effort and in essence proclaim you have no further need of God! Neither you nor I will get there in any endeavor, but certainly not in our christian development, relationship with Christ and the remodeling He has desired to do. KNowing this, relish the understanding that until your last breath is breathed, you have something to learn, development to strive for and purposed pursuit to drive on toward. Have a blessed weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
