While preparing to write this article, I decided to Google the following phrase: "time it takes to become an expert." Take a look at some of the results from the first page:
I remember hearing the 10,000 hour "rule" growing up. It was discussed periodically in school, and was mentioned specifically in relation to artistic expertise in music, theatre, or visual arts. However, as I read through a number of these results, what I found was relatively consistent: it takes time, yes, but time alone may not be enough; expertise, according to these writers, relies also on intelligence, personality, and natural talent.
In college, I was taking a class that I was not particularly excited about. It ended up being a great experience. I remember the teacher, an instructor I had for many other classes, one day telling us that many of the big names in music entertainment did not necessarily have tons of talent. I, along with the other four students in the class, chuckled when he said this. Instead, he said, what they had was decent musical ability combined with opportunity; they were the right musicians with the right skills in the right place at the right time.
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, saying "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Ephesians 1:15-17). In the early portion of this letter, Paul starts by acknowledging the accomplishments of these believers (i.e. their faith and love); he then follows that by showing them, in a remarkably loving way, that there is still room to grow.
As we look briefly into this passage, there are a couple of words that I want us to look at more in depth. Paul prays that God would give a spirit of wisdom. This particular word for wisdom, sophia, can be used to convey either secular or divine wisdom. The word for revelation, apokalypsis, in the New Testament refers "to God making information known, especially to His close associates" (Goodrick), directly implying divine wisdom. As such, Paul's prayer for these believers is that God would give them wisdom for life in general and, more specifically, for their relationship to Himself.
Then we come to the final phrase, much connected to the preceding discussion of apokalypsis: "in the knowledge of Him." The NIV renders it a little bit differently: "so that you may know Him better." This, my friends, is my prayer for each of us. God has given to us a remarkable opportunity, and we have the chance to work at it every moment of every day. Each choice that we make contributes to accomplish this end.
You see, I know that there will always be something new for me to learn. Even after 10,000 hours, even despite my intelligence or talent, there is still room to grow, both in fields of academia and in my relationship with Christ. May God give to each one of us that same spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul wanted for the Ephesians. As we daily come to better know God, the overflow of this relationship will further influence every aspect of our lives.
In college, I was taking a class that I was not particularly excited about. It ended up being a great experience. I remember the teacher, an instructor I had for many other classes, one day telling us that many of the big names in music entertainment did not necessarily have tons of talent. I, along with the other four students in the class, chuckled when he said this. Instead, he said, what they had was decent musical ability combined with opportunity; they were the right musicians with the right skills in the right place at the right time.
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, saying "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Ephesians 1:15-17). In the early portion of this letter, Paul starts by acknowledging the accomplishments of these believers (i.e. their faith and love); he then follows that by showing them, in a remarkably loving way, that there is still room to grow.
As we look briefly into this passage, there are a couple of words that I want us to look at more in depth. Paul prays that God would give a spirit of wisdom. This particular word for wisdom, sophia, can be used to convey either secular or divine wisdom. The word for revelation, apokalypsis, in the New Testament refers "to God making information known, especially to His close associates" (Goodrick), directly implying divine wisdom. As such, Paul's prayer for these believers is that God would give them wisdom for life in general and, more specifically, for their relationship to Himself.
Then we come to the final phrase, much connected to the preceding discussion of apokalypsis: "in the knowledge of Him." The NIV renders it a little bit differently: "so that you may know Him better." This, my friends, is my prayer for each of us. God has given to us a remarkable opportunity, and we have the chance to work at it every moment of every day. Each choice that we make contributes to accomplish this end.
You see, I know that there will always be something new for me to learn. Even after 10,000 hours, even despite my intelligence or talent, there is still room to grow, both in fields of academia and in my relationship with Christ. May God give to each one of us that same spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul wanted for the Ephesians. As we daily come to better know God, the overflow of this relationship will further influence every aspect of our lives.
Bibliography
Goodrick, Edward W., John R. Kohlenberger, and James A. Swanson.Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1999. Print.
"Google." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2014.
New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1977. Kindle.
NIV Archaeological Study Bible: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. Print.
Goodrick, Edward W., John R. Kohlenberger, and James A. Swanson.Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1999. Print.
"Google." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2014.
New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1977. Kindle.
NIV Archaeological Study Bible: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. Print.
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