Mastery of few or acquaintance with many?

Last night our family sat around the TV for a few minutes before bed to listen to songs on the iPod (ala Panasonic’s cool docking station). While song surfing, I’d say “this one is for Micah” (Cover to Cover by Wes King) or “this one is for Mom” (Labor of Love, Andrew Peterson). Finally I reminded them, this one is for me — Simplify by Wes King.

Simplifying life has been a desire of mine for years and it seems elusive. I try, but life in a family and in ministry has a way of taking control away from you. Recently I’ve been sorting through my theological library and coming to terms with a few thoughts as it relates to simplifying.

1. Why do I need all these books? My library is not huge, but there could easily be 500 volumes on the shelves at the church office, not to mention a collection of e-books on computer. At most, I reference 5-7 books a week depending on the passage that I’m preaching or subject that I’m teaching.
2. An unwritten secret among pastors and seminary students is that the size of your theological library gives you clout. It’s a status symbol. I know I’m impressed when I hear of one pastor’s 10,000 volume library or take a video tour through Albert Mohler’s stacks. Yes, our books are our tools but beware the trap of idolatry.
3. I’d rather have mastery over the best books than acquaintance with the many. The question is similar to “would you rather have 2-3 intimate friends you can share anything with or 500 Facebook friends who know little about the real you?” If my profession and calling were primarily in academia, then maybe it would be different. John Hannah drove this idea home years ago when he commented that if stranded on an island and he could only have 2-3 volumes, he’d chose a Bible, a hymnal, and a book of Christian creeds.

So what are those select resources that I keep going back to again and again? That’s be a post for another time.

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