Direction 5: Overcoming Sloth and Impatience: Baxter’s Guide to Fruitful Learning

Baxter's Directory

From Part 3 of Baxter’s Christian Directory. Chapter 7: Directions for the Discovery of the Truth among Contenders, and the Escape of Heresy and Deceit. Direction 5

Introduction

‘Take heed of slothfulness and impatience in searching after truth, and think not to find it in difficult cases, without both hard and patient studies, and ripeness of understanding to enable you therein: and suspect all opinions which are the offspring of idleness and ease, whatever Divine illumination they may pretend;’ (except as you take them from others upon trust (in a slothful way) who attained them by diligent studies). For God that hath called men to labour, doth use to give his blessing to the laborious. And he that hath said by his Spirit, “Meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all,” doth accordingly cause those men to profit, who seek it in this laborious way of his appointment: and he that hath said, “The desire of the slothful killeth him,” doth not use to bless the slothful with his teachings. He that will say to him in judgment, “Thou wicked and slothful servant,” will not encourage the slothfulness which he condemneth. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God: for the Lord giveth wisdom.” Mark here to whom God giveth wisdom: all the godly are taught of God: but mark here how it is that he teacheth them. Not while they scorn at studies and universities, and look that their knowledge should cost them nothing, or that the Spirit should be instead of serious studies, or that their understandings should discern what is true or false at the first appearance; but while they think no pains or patience too great to learn the truth in the school of Christ. (Richard Baxter).

There’s a lot of wisdom in what Baxter shares with us in this direction. In his spiritual direction above, he emphasizes the importance of diligent study and hard work in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. We’ll reiterate some of these in the “Key Points” and “Questions” sections below, but in summary fashion, Baxter warns against slothfulness and impatience in searching for truth, stressing that it requires “hard and patient studies” and a mature understanding. (How difficult it is for us to be patient in our learning. I know this is a struggle for me.)

He cautions against opinions that arise from “idleness and ease,” rather than rigorous investigation, even if they claim divine inspiration. Baxter cites biblical passages that encourage and promise blessings for those who work hard in their studies, contrasting this with the condemnation awaiting the slothful. He argues that true wisdom and knowledge of God come through actively “crying after” and “searching for” understanding, not through passive or superficial approaches. This is as unwelcome wisdom in our day as I’m sure it was in his.

His overall message is that genuine spiritual and intellectual growth requires a commitment to serious, diligent study, rather than relying on shortcuts or “An Idiot’s Guide to Deep Truths.” In summary, Baxter emphasizes the necessity of hard work, patience, and sustained effort in the pursuit of truth and wisdom, rather than succumbing to laziness or expecting effortless inspiration and knowledge to magically appear from nowhere. It seems we look for spiritual “short cuts” all too often when it comes to going deep with the Lord, if we desire to go deep with him in the first place.

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Key Principles

1.      Diligence and Patience in Seeking Truth: We must not be slothful or impatient in our pursuit of wisdom and understanding, but rather approach it with hard work and enduring effort (Proverbs 2:1-5, 2 Timothy 2:15). Consistency and perseverance are our allies in this pursuit.

2.      Reliance on the Spirit-Empowered Way of Labor: While the Spirit of God is the ultimate source of our understanding, he typically blesses those who faithfully study and meditate on his Word (1 Timothy 4:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This is one of God’s ordinary means of grace.

3.      Rejecting Lazy Thinking and Embracing Disciplined Learning: We must be wary of opinions and beliefs that arise from “idleness and ease,” and instead wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to the hard work of learning and growing in the knowledge of God (Proverbs 13:4, Colossians 3:23-24).

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Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection

1.      In what areas of your life do you struggle with slothfulness or impatience in your pursuit of truth and understanding?

2.      How can you cultivate a greater sense of diligence, patience, and discipline in your spiritual growth and learning? 

3.      What are some examples of “opinions which are the offspring of idleness and ease” that you have encountered in your own life or in the church? 

4.      How can you practically apply the principle of meditating on God’s Word and giving yourself wholly to it, as described in 1 Timothy 4:15?  

5.      In what ways have you experienced God’s blessing and empowerment in your life as you have pursued wisdom and understanding through diligent study?  

6.      How can you encourage others in your church or community to embrace a more disciplined and hard-working approach to learning and growing in the knowledge of God? 

7.      What are some practical steps you can take to “seek [wisdom] as silver” and “search for her as for hidden treasures,” as described in Proverbs 2:4?  

8.      How can you cultivate a greater sense of humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit in your pursuit of truth, rather than relying on your own intellect or intuition? How can you discern the difference between the two?

9.      What are the potential dangers of neglecting deep and intentional education and study in the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and growth?

10.   How can you balance a deep respect for rigorous study and learning with an unwavering trust in the illumination of the Holy Spirit?

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Action Steps

1.      Commit to a regular, dedicated time of Bible reading, meditation, and study, and hold yourself accountable to this discipline. 

2.      Identify areas of your life or theology where you may have embraced “opinions which are the offspring of idleness and ease,” and prayerfully reevaluate these beliefs through diligent study. 

3.      Seek out opportunities for formal or informal theological education, such as attending a Bible study, taking a class, meeting with your pastor, or joining a reading group, to deepen your understanding of God’s Word. 

4.      Cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that true wisdom and understanding come from God’s gracious revelation, not our own intellectual efforts alone.

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Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts that long to know you more deeply and to walk in the wisdom and understanding that you so generously offer. Forgive us for the times when we have been slothful and impatient in our pursuit of truth, preferring the easy path of “idle speculation” over the hard work of diligent study. Lord, grant us the grace to approach the treasures of your Word with reverence and diligence, that we may uncover the hidden riches of your divine knowledge. Strengthen us by your Spirit to meditate on your precepts, to apply our hearts to understanding, and to cry out for the wisdom that you so freely give to those who seek it with all their might. May we never be content with opinions that are the results of lazy hearts, but may we instead hunger and thirst for the truth that can only be found in you. Empower us, O Lord, to reject the allure of easy answers and to embrace the disciplined path of learning, so that we may glorify you, know you better, become more like you, and be a blessing to many. In Christ we pray. Amen.

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