My Thoughts

Instruction Manuals, Construction Plans & The Bible
May 18, 2011

Ever tried to put something together without reading the entire instruction manual? The parts and steps that look like they should go together we usually end up taking back apart because of something we didn’t read.
Any contractor worth his weight will tell you before starting any construction project you should read and go over the entire set of constructions plans. The better you know the whole set of plans the better and easier the entire project will go. You can’t take a page out of one section and start and then find out later that a detail in another section shows more detail and something you missed or mis-interpreted.
It’s the same way with The Bible, we need to read the complete writings so we may not only better understand but we won’t make any mis-interpretations. Use the understanding to put into our lives the plan as it was intended not live our lives and then try and fit our actions within the plans. We can, without a doubt, find a verse within the book to make any action justified if taken out of context.
We quote or post verses sometimes to cheer up someone’s day or give strength to those in need and these are the ways they should be used. But to live and show our faith it takes more, it takes a complete understanding of God’s plan which can only be OBtained by reading the entire Bible. It’s more than just reading, it’s studying how each book, chapter and verse relates to each other giving us a total understanding. The more successful construction projects are the ones that not only does the contractor spend a little time trying to understand the complete plans but one whom stays in contact with the owner on a daily basis, meeting with the owners representative once a week or whenever needed to help work out prOBlems or clear up understanding of the plans. Sounds like good parallel to our own lives, daily prayer with the “Owner”, regular meetings with His representative whether it be in Church or with family and friends.
Doing a walk thru and making a punch list on construction projects is a way for all concerned to keep abreast of not only the progress being made but to look at things that need changing. Maybe we all should do a walk thru and punch list of our lives to see where we are at and what we need to work on to make our project the best it can be.
Look at the Bible as the ultimate instruction guide, on how we should live and treat our fellowman; look at it as the construction plan for life. The rewards you will receive won’t be measured in monetary values but in the happiness in your heart as well as knowing the eternal life you have been given as a bonus for a jOB well done.