The University of Pennsylvania has a new college course. It is called “Wasting time on the Internet.” A student taking that course will be required to stare at a computer screen for three hours and will only be allowed to interact through chat rooms, bots or some form of social media. (duh!)

At the Santa Clara University, you can study the science of trash (decomposition). You can explore the details of maple syrup production in a school in New York. In Chicago, Zombies are a hot topic as a means to study how people relate to each other.

And there actually is a class in underwater basket weaving at the University of California, San Diego. (According to Time magazine, November 2014)

Truth is, I am guilty of studying “dumb” things too. Each week I study newspapers and magazines. I read spy novels and watch the Discovery channel. I love maps and biographies. I am a history buff. I am on Facebook and I tweet. Nothing really wrong with any of that…but I need a serious focus for my study time. And that focus must be God’s word.

Paul instructed his young protégé, Timothy to be a student of the word of truth.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (II Tim. 2:15)

God’s word, the Bible should be the focus of our attention. But just reading the words isn’t enough. We have to savor the experience, apply the truths taught, ruminate on the ideas and let the concepts change us.

This week might be a good time to think about our own Bible study. When do we do it? (Morning, afternoon, evening. What works best?) How much time do I invest in that study? (More than Facebook, less than TV?) How do we do it? (On line, electronically, with others, using a study guide?) Do we take notes? Do we journal what we are learning? How do I share it?

It might be a great time to ask ourselves, “Am I so captivated by the scriptures that His very words are “sweet to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth?” (Ps. 119:103)

Before the newspapers, before the magazines, before the TV shows and the online stuff…let’s all focus on His Word. And then we can echo the psalmist: “Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I WILL NOT FORGET YOUR LAW!” (Ps. 119:109)