Treasure Digest

• I Know All That Stuff, So Why Do I Still Need to Study?
• The Blessing
• Q&A: My Spouse Is Not in the Church?
• Quotable Quotes
• "How We Make the Night to Be Much Observed Special"
• End With a Bang!
• Share Your Treasures!

I Know All That Stuff, So Why Do I Still Need to Study?

You've studied the Bible for years and years. You've read the Bible many times over, so why do you need to study anymore?

Over time, God's instructions and His ways fade in our minds. We live in a world that inundates us in seductive messages, inducements and enticements. We must counterbalance the constant pull away from God and His ways. And we need much more than one sermon a week, if we are to grow.

We need Bible study much as we need daily food (Matthew 4:4). Studying the Bible provides the fuel for spiritual growth—and keeps us strong so that we can resist the wiles of the adversary.

Jesus warned us that the end time would be like the days of Noah and of Lot—reveling in violence and material pursuits to the exclusion of God (Luke 17:26-28). What chance have we of surviving spiritually in such an age if we don't fill our minds with God's thoughts? It's not enough to fondly recollect what food tastes like—we must have some of the real thing regularly!

If Bible study has become dreary for you, ask God to give you a fresh love for His Word. One technique is to study out an inspiring subject—like the healing of the world at the return of Christ. I always have to break out a box of tissues to dry my eyes when I read about how terrible it will be in the tribulation and how wondrous the healing of all of humanity's hurts will be. Reread Isaiah and Revelation, and remember why we are urged to pray, "Thy kingdom come!"

Another technique is to jot down notes about any interesting bits you come across while studying. I have a three-ring binder with jottings in it, organized by subject. This comes in handy later when I want to study a subject.

Also remember that studying God's Word is preparation for service—it is part of being ready to give an answer to those who ask, and to teach and encourage those God has called.

When you study to be of service to others, your Bible study will be a joy and you'll be guarding your mind against the adversary.

—Jay Turner

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The Blessing

The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent (published by Thomas Nelson Inc. in 1985) explains the need that children of all ages have for the approval of their parents and how they can suffer by not receiving this. It explains how we can bestow this blessing on anyone we come in contact with, but especially our own beloved children and grandchildren.

The blessing is based on five elements building one upon the other and is backed by examples in Scripture such as Isaac blessing Jacob and Jesus blessing the little children.

Meaningful touch. The symbolic meaning of touch even in today's society is expressed by our granddaughters when they proclaim that they want Grandma to hold them.

Spoken words. A great way for grandparents to do this and to also tie it into the third element, expressing high value, is in bestowing your grandchild with a special name, such as "Grandma's Bundle of Joy" or "Grandma's Ray of Sunshine." Both of my little granddaughters know their own special name and call themselves by it quite often.

Picturing a special future. Thankfully we can point our children to God's Kingdom throughout the year and especially at Feast time.

Active commitment. This includes committing our children to God and committing our lives to their best interest. This means being willing to learn their unique needs, talents, abilities and interests and seeing to it that they are able to develop these as fully as possible. Many examples abound of parents who sacrifice for years so that their children can be figure skating champions like Tara Lipinski or Todd Eldredge, for example.

—Marilyn Braley

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Q&A: My Spouse Is Not in the Church

Does United have any literature to comfort and advise members whose spouses are not in the Church?

I don't know of any specific booklets or articles on that subject. Your best source of comfort and advice would likely come from counsel with your pastor. He knows you and your situation best and may well have met your mate, too. If you have any particular questions or issues, it would be helpful to arrange an appointment with him.

One of the difficulties in publishing articles on this subject is that every relationship and circumstance is unique, making it difficult to offer generalized encouragement. But there are some principles that may be helpful. Three keys to dealing with this kind of situation are communication, respect and example.

Regarding communication, it's important that you and your mate each be able to express what you believe and why it's important to you. You shouldn't try to change each other's minds—that can lead to an argument. But it will relieve the situation of some stress if you can both speak calmly and openly about your beliefs.

Secondly, even though you and your mate have different beliefs, it is important that each of you respects the other and the other's beliefs. A great deal of stress comes into a relationship if either disregards or ridicules the other's beliefs. For example, your spouse may continue to observe traditional holidays (such as Christmas). That may put a strain on you, since you no longer believe in those observances—but it would be unproductive and unnecessarily stressful to try to force your mate to not observe those days. By the same token, he or she can accept and respect your decision to observe the Sabbath and the annual festivals.

The third general principle is your personal example. Peter's instruction is given to wives, but the principle holds true for husbands as well: "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear" (1 Peter 3:1).

Peter points out that the most important thing for you to do in your circumstance is to continue to be the best, most loving, responsive and respectful husband or wife you can (see also 1 Peter 3:7 and Ephesians 5:21). Your mate may well be "won over" by your conduct because he or she sees that your new understanding and beliefs are helping you become an even better husband or wife.

Along that line, it might also help if your mate has contact with the Church so he or she can become acquainted with the members. He or she may be willing to come to Sabbath and Holy Day services with you occasionally and attend the congregation's social events. Hopefully your mate will see that our pastors and members are friendly, reasonable and "normal" people.

You may also find it helpful to talk about your situation with others whose spouses are not members. They may have specific suggestions and recommendations based on their own experiences.

I respect your commitment to your calling and new understanding. I'm confident God will continue to bless your efforts.

—Don Henson

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Quotable Quotes

"The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle" (anonymous).

"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied" (Arnold Glasow).

"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man" (George Washington).

—Anthony Pacelli

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"How We Make the Night to Be Much Observed Special"

A reader wrote with this suggestion: "It would be nice if a call went out to the brethren to send in their 'How We Make the Night to Be Much Observed Special.' I am sure there are some wonderful ideas out there—it would be nice if we could share with one another." We'd all love to hear your ideas!

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End With a Bang!

In any public speaking class, you will be taught to end your message "with a bang"—with a strong conclusion. The end of your message tells the audience exactly what you want them to do with your speech.

It is interesting that the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all end with Christ giving admonition to preach the gospel. Mark records some of Jesus' last words on earth as, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Some of Christ's last words in the book of Luke are recorded as, "Thus it is written . . . that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47). Matthew's gospel ends with direct instruction to preach the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). The book of Acts, which continues where Luke's Gospel ended, begins with instruction to preach the gospel "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Obviously, Christ chose His parting words very wisely so we (as His followers) would know exactly what to do in His absence. UN

Share Your Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org