31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 19

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question number nineteen, and my answer.

1.      What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? The question asks about quality, not quantity. I guess the most important thing I could do is to seek out resources, books, and tools of quality. I love to read, research, and use tools in preparing for sermons and Bible studies. I read all the time. But, I do find that I sometimes read to the end a book or resource that has little quality or value. The most productive use of my time and ministry would be to put down the book and resource instead of reading it to its conclusion. Along the same vein, I need to be circumspect in choosing those books and resources of the highest quality. Instead of reading the latest book from a current theologian, why not read from Augustine. Instead of listening or reading a sermon from a pastor currently serving in ministry, I’ll try to take time and read a Jonathan Edwards sermon. This does not mean that the current theologians, pastors, and writers lack the quality of those in the past. I need to seek out those quality writers and theologians to read. But, there must be more discernment in my selection process for both me and my congregation.