Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”
So, Gentle Reader, returning to our examination of meaning must-haves, if someone asked me what (to me) is the meaning of say . . . the Protestant Work Ethic, I would first differentiate between work and toil and then define the Ethic—it’s history, content and timelessness.
Following these steps, I would fashion my appraisal of work’s right meaning based upon a personal evaluation of what are, as I understand it, the tenets and applications of the Protestant Work Ethic and how well they comply with my list of meaning must-haves—my standards derived from Holy Scripture.
In this particular case—the Protestant Work Ethic— my meaning derived from right meaning-making standards would probably go something like this: The right meaning of the Protestant Work Ethic is that we are to first, love and serve the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 22:36-40, NKJV) and second, work to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, NKJV).
In this way, for subject after subject, I would manage to assess life issues, all the while remembering that the addition of new insight might allow for modification of my conclusions. Make sense?
This thinking works well. It should, it is based on solid rock. Yet, even after all this effort on my part you can see how difficult it would be to make any absolute determination— that must be left to God Himself, Scripture rules all. This is a sane and humble and compassionate way to live. And by the grace of God, it works.
My choice.
To be continued . . .
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