I was in the PX, browsing through the magazine rack when I ran across Pen World magazine. Pen World is a magazine focused on different types and models of pens. Some are expensive and ornate. The magazine seems a lot like I would think Cigar Aficionado magazine is for cigars. This was interesting to me because I enjoy my Lamy Safari fountain pen.
As I thumbed through the magazine, I saw the different articles and reviews of different pens, I began to ask the question: “Why would you want a nice pen like that?” If the owner of the pen never uses the pen to write anything, what good is the pen. It doesn’t matter if it is smooth, nor does it matter if the pen is beautiful. If the owner never uses it to write, all the pen represents is a piece of jewelry. In all fairness, some people enjoy buying pens as a hobby—and that is perfectly fine. However, the magazine sets up a great analogy about the Christian walk.
Many people like to express their Christianity by visiting Christian Books stores, buying and even reading the latest trendy Christian book. But what good is it? If all we are going to do is read the book to show other how trendy we are. If all we do is attend the latest Bible Study to be make ourselves feel better or to show others our expertise—we are useless to the kingdom and we have earned our reward of worldly praise.
We as Christians need to spend more time acting on what we know than chasing after the trends.