Last week, I heard Pastor Paine talking about the three different kinds of "wait" in the Bible. It's the word after the word "wait" that tells you which kind it is. I didn't think much of it at the time, but fifteen minutes later I was asked to give the next Sunday afternoon Bible study. As soon as I could, I caught up with Pastor Paine and asked, "Can I steal your idea for the Bible study next week?" "Absolutely!" he replied. So it is with his blessing that I am giving this study.

The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, published in 1987, contains many thought-provoking questions that are fun to ask and answer. Here is an excerpt from the introduction:

There are no correct or incorrect answers to these questions, only honest or dishonest ones. Can you know what you would do in a strange hypothetical situation? Of course you can't, but why let that inhibit you? This is a chance to gain insights without actually living through the predicaments described. Let your self be swept into these situations so that you care about the choices you make. Resist the temptation to escape from a question by denying its reality or by coming up with some complication that obscures the basic issue. Accept that conditions are as described, the odds are accurate, that promises will be fulfilled, and furthermore, that you know this when you are making your decisions. ... If you feel a question lacks detail or is unclear, make an assumption that will correct the problem.

For each of these questions, I'm going to create a scenario for my own use. Feel free to create your own, if you don't like mine. As much as possible, keep your scenario spiritually neutral. Assume that you've already prayed to God and consulted with the pastor, and received no clear direction. The choice is totally up to you.

What's the difference between "Coming up Higher" and "Taking too much upon yourself"?

First, let's look at the two extremes.

Sometimes there is a need in the church, and God gives someone the eyes to see that need, but they're afraid do anything about it. They say, "If the pastor wanted me to do it, he would have asked me. And if God wanted me to do it, he would have told the pastor to ask me." Maybe the pastor sees the need, too, and he's praying to God to send someone to fill it. And God is sending someone, but they just don't get the message.

Promise

(Wordnet 2.0) a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future.

(Bouvier 1856) (Contract) An engagement by which the promisor contracts towards another to perform or do something to the advantage of the latter.

When a promise is reduced to the form of a written agreement under seal, it is called a covenant.

Covenant

(Wordnet 2.0) (Bible) an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return

(Easton 1897) a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant.

We call those have spent many years studying God's word, "Old-Heads." But even old-heads have their faults and failings:

• They can forget that they need daily repentance.
• They can exalt or justify themselves rather than God.
• Even when they seek God first, they can deceive themselves afterwards.
• They can become too self-important to subject themselves to God's law.

As Elihu said, age should teach wisdom, but great men are not always wise.