John Ed Matthison’s piece on giving, not getting, that I mentioned last week, reminded me of another application, contrasting the Sea of Galilee with the Dead Sea.

I, too, have been to the Sea of Galilee, and there’s something striking as you approach it. Everyone knows that the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, about 1300 feet below sea level. Not everyone knows that the Sea of Galilee is also below sea level – about 600 feet – and there is a sign to that effect as you approach it.

So why is the Sea of Galilee throbbing with life while the Dead Sea is, well, dead? Simple, with the Sea of Galilee, water comes in, water goes out. What’s the lesson?

Give me more revelation so that I can live for you,
    for nothing is more pure and eternal than your truth. (Psalm 119.144, TPT)

The purpose of Bible study is that we can live for God, not that we become smarter or “Bible scholars” or “theologians.” We have to live it out – put another way, the living water of the Word has to flow through us in order to change us and refresh those around us. If we just “study” but don’t put it into practice, we can be smart but we will be dead. Or, as one writer said, “Those people are right. Dead. Right.”

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1.22, ESV)

How easily we get puffed up over our opinions! But love builds up the structure of our new life. If anyone thinks of himself as a know-it-all, he still has a lot to learn. But if a person passionately loves God, he will possess the knowledge of God. (1 Corinthians 8.1 – 3, TPT)

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. (Psalm 1.1, 2, Living Bible)