How to steward your mind
A few weeks ago in a sermon I told you that I think you should read good Christian books that get deeper than surface-level or sentimental ideas. But then I didn't give you any recommendations. That was pretty dumb, wasn't it?
I'd like to remedy that today with a short review of a favorite of mine over the past couple years, but first, a quick thought on reading, generally.
Reading is a cheat code for getting smarter, especially physical books (and even better if you can take notes while you read) because they reduce distraction. We, as stewards of a mind, should work to develop ourselves so that we can better serve God and others.
Obviously high intellect is not required for service in the kingdom. It can sometimes hurt unless we maintain our humility. The best way to maintain humility is to become a servant. That posture was the mentality of our Lord, and we learn very quickly when we talk with others how little we actually know! But we should work to improve ourselves and be ready to give answers for our faith.
Pastors and lay people started writing about our faith in its earliest decades. Certainly, though, we have more access today. Avoid the following mental trap: "Christians back then had only the Bible, so I don't need to read anything else." True enough, the Bible should consume much of your reading time. But just because earlier Christians didn't have the resources we do, it doesn't make those resources bad or suspect. Earlier generations of Christians would have loved to have had what we do! It is now our job to steward the resources available to us wisely.
On that subject, here's a recommendation for you. If you've ever wondered what story the Old Testament is trying to tell and how you can understand it better, then Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden should be the next book you pick up.
The Epic of Eden
by Sandra L. Richtern
Richter examines the covenants in the Old Testament and shows how they fit together into God's grand story of revealing Jesus. She introduces key concepts about the culture of the ancient near-east, which help the reader better understand what is happening particularly in narrative portions of the Old Testament.
Though she's a respected scholar, her books are approachable and designed with the reader in mind. This is not a difficult read, but it does introduce some excellent concepts that will challenge and assist you in understanding the Old Testament.
If you read this book, you'll get a better appreciation of just how incredible Jesus really is! If you do decide to read it, please tell me! I'd love to have a conversation about it!
