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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for June 2, 2009
“A Workman of the Word”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
“Do you see a man skilled in his work?”
I love that line from Proverbs 22:29. Just a simple question: Do you see a man skilled in his work?
Isn’t it great to watch a skilled workman?
In baseball I like to watch Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. He is a true workman, especially at the plate.
I even like the word “workman.” It makes me think of someone who really works hard at his craft, to master it.
Now let me ask you this. Do you think someone needs to tell the workman to sharpen his skills? Do you think someone needs to come along behind Albert Pujols and push him along? “Come on, Albert, please – you’ve got to get up and lift some weights. Please take some batting practice. Please?”
No. A real workman needs no pushing.
Push him? You can’t even catch him.
Now think about the attributes of a workman.
A workman is focused. He doesn’t dabble in every little thing that comes along. Albert doesn’t blow his winters playing basketball or hanging out on some beach. He is focused on his work – the work of being the best baseball player he can be.
A workman always improves. He is never satisfied, never rests on his laurels. He sees that it can be done better and he strives to do it.
A workman is always learning. He plumbs the depths, filling his mind with all there is to know about his field.
A workman doesn’t do it for the money. Oh, he probably makes money, and more all the time as he improves. But the money is not his motivation. People who are motivated by money alone will not keep up with the workman. The workman is driven from within. There is something inside him that makes him get up and go and push and push and push.
A workman doesn’t clock out. Some people want to leave work behind and move on to more interesting things. Not the workman. His work is the most interesting thing. He doesn’t leave it behind because it’s a big chunk of who he is. A workman doesn’t say, “I don’t want to talk about work right now.” He’s always ready to talk about it because he loves it.
He is the workman.
Okay, so what’s all this about the workman? It sounds like I’m promoting workaholics or something.
Well I got the word from Second Timothy 2:15. It says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Paul told Timothy to be a workman.
And I hear that echoing down to me today. “Doug, be a workman – a workman of the Word.”
In the King James that verse says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
I want to study. I want to rightly divide – to correctly handle – the word of truth.
I want to be a Workman of The Word.
Now go back to those attributes of a workman.
A Workman of The Word is focused. He doesn’t dabble in every little theology that comes along. It’s not The Word today and the Oprah Book Club tomorrow. No, he is focused on the Word of God.
A Workman of The Word always improves. He never says, “Well, I’ve got this Christian thing down.” Instead, he never stops putting the Word of God into practice more and more.
A Workman of the Word is always learning. He plumbs the depths of Scripture. He fills His mind more and more with the Word of the Living God.
A Workman of the Word doesn’t do it for the money. Oh, he may earn his living in the ministry, but that money is not his motivation. He is driven by a deep passion for God and His Word. Something inside him drives him repeatedly back into the depths of Scripture.
A Workman of the Word doesn’t clock out. Some people toss the Bible up on the shelf and move on to more interesting things. Not the Workman of The Word. To him the Word is the most interesting thing. It’s a big chunk of who he is. He never says, “I don’t want to talk about the Word right now.” He’s always ready to talk about it because he loves it.
He is the Workman of the Word.
Do you know anyone like that? Then let them know that you noticed. Tell them, “Thank you for being a Workman of the Word.”
Or maybe this is your call today. Maybe something is stirring deep within you. Something is saying, “That’s what I want. That’s what I need.”
Then go for it! Follow that drive.
It’s time for you to be the next Workman of the Word.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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