THE IMAGINARY WHEELBARROW
This week at Bible study Leslie, the adult daughter of the Women’s Ministry leader, shared how she dealt with difficult to understand Scriptural concepts. She puts them in an imaginary wheelbarrow and pushes it around collecting more. Once in awhile two or more concepts stick together to bring greater understanding to each.
This week, because her input from our study on experiencing the joy of Jesus from the book Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado, two items popped out of her wheelbarrow. They were the phrase “eternal perspective” and the concept of having joy through suffering.
We are blessed with many tools to help us understand the Bible – various translations of the Bible, concordances, commentaries, etc. For me, one who loves to solve the challenge of a mystery, all of these are fun to use; but I have found that some enigmas are best put away for a time so that they don’t become stumbling blocks to what Bible study is all about, getting to know Jesus. It’s a matter of trust, trusting that the Holy Spirit will do His job as promised. (John 14:26)
How about you? What in the Bible is a puzzle to you? For a long time, I was irritated by a phrase that my teacher kept using, “God’s economy.” What is that? I didn’t have to use a wheelbarrow this time. I finally looked up “economy” in the dictionary. Such an easy solution! God’s economy is the orderly arrangement or management of His kingdom.
Enjoy doing your Bible study this week. You are doing one, aren’t you?
ADDENDUM
Last night I prepared this post and this morning I sat down to do my daily Bible study before sending it off. I was on the next to last page of today’s study and read this, “God’s economy is upside down (or right-side up and ours is upside down!). God says that the more hopeless your circumstance, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers.” (p. 148)
I calculated that it has been about forty years since I have heard or seen that phrase. What are the odds that it would show up now? I take it as an encouragement from God that I am right where He wants me to be in my Bible study and in writing the blog. It feels good.
Margie Theiss 
I have always found the wheelbarrow illustration extremely helpful for exactly the reason you state: It keeps us from getting stuck on something and missing what God is saying to us today. I have a huge amount of respect for Leslie and always learn a lot from her comments, but I think she would want to point out to your readers that the originator of the “wheelbarrow concept” is you!
I should have known that my daughter-in-law Gayle would catch me in subterfuge. But as a Bible teacher pointed out to me – all she taught she learned from someone else. The same goes for me. It’s rewarding to know that I passed on this tool.