“It's a matter of what I do with what I already have that matters most.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-10) from his book, Spirituality for the Rest of Us: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Knowing God (p. 77). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Larry shares, “Maturity and spiritual depth take time. But I can please God right away because it's not a matter of how much I know or how long I've been at it. It's a matter of what I do with what I already have that matters most.”

That is really encouraging if you are new in the faith.  And that is true all along the growth process.  I’m not judged by what someone else does.  “It is a matter of what I do with what I already have that matters.” 

Larry shares what he calls a Dimmer Switch Principle.  He says, “It's a simple principle. Here's how it works: When we respond to the light we have, God gives us more. When we don't, he takes away the light we already have.”  He then says, “Rightly understood, the Dimmer Switch Principle undercuts the common assumption that those of us who know the most about the Bible and theology are also the most spiritual.”

And that can be an intimidation factor when we look at those who know so much more than we do.  Now Larry does say, “This is not to say Bible knowledge and theology are unimportant. They are. But they don't equal pleasing God. In reality, when it comes to spiritual growth, the amount of light we have at any given time isn't nearly as important as what we're doing with that light—and whether God is in the process of turning it up or down.”

Yes, Biblical knowledge and theology are very important in our spiritual growth but what we are doing with what we know it what matters to God. 

So how are you doing with what you know?