Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 2-011 (Practical Christian Living)

Why do we enjoy everything else more than the Bible?

by Siu Fung Wu

Why do we enjoy everything else that tells us "about" God?

No doubt most Christians understand the paramount importance of the Bible in their lives, and all pastors realise the role they should play in encouraging their people to know God's Word. However, it remains true that Christians, in general, do not read the Bible as much as they should. For example, many believers would not have read the entire Bible more than once - especially the Old Testament.

It is almost an undeniable fact that the majority of Christians today (in the Western world) spend more time on sermons, Christian books and videos, than on the Bible itself. Many would love to participate in a Bible study group, and would enjoy attending a Christian convention, but few find it exhilarating to read through the book of Deuteronomy or 2 Chronicles, let alone Job or Jeremiah. Some even enjoy reading "deep" theological books and technical commentaries, but find it "dry" to read and pray through the Psalms.

Why do we enjoy everything else that tells us something "about" God, more than the divinely inspired Word of God itself (2 Tim 3:16)? Here are some possible reasons.

We mistakenly think that the Bible must be "studied"

One misconception is that the Scriptures have to be studied with great intellectual intensity. The assumption is that "deep" theological truths can only be found through much study. As a result, some Christians prefer to attend special courses run by a church or Bible college to learn more about the Bible. Others spend a lot of time consulting commentaries and other technical tools to interpret the Scriptures. While these are good in themselves, often the importance of reading the Bible as it is - devotionally - is neglected. I myself have spent the past three years writing a postgraduate research paper in the theology of Paul, and engaged in detailed exegesis in the Greek. Although I found great satisfaction in such a project, I would insist that an intimate relationship with God does not depend on such academic endeavour.

The help of a readable study guide about the historical, cultural, and theological background of each book in the Bible is, of course, essential. Bible study materials like this are plentiful today (and, with the help of a good pastor, it is not hard to pick a good one in a Christian bookshop). But apart from this and good teaching in the local church, believers should have little need of further help to read the Bible in their devotional life.

Christians can be assured that they can meet with God through his Word - if there is a definite effort to regularly come into his presence to meditate on the Scriptures. Throughout history - since biblical times - the people of God have been able to develop an intimate relationship with God without the sophisticated theological training we have today. There is no reason why we cannot do the same.

We want to hear a "relevant" message ====================================

When we listen to a sermon, attend a conference, or read a Christian book, we find that the message is relevant to our daily life because the speaker or the author has applied biblical truths in our own life's situations. There are plenty of inspirational speakers and writers today who can give us a real "lift" spiritually. It is not surprising, therefore, that believers enjoy everything else more than reading the Bible themselves.

But what is missing here is a "first-hand" encounter with the eternal God. One simply cannot have an intimate and on-going relationship with Jesus, if his or her spiritual food comes primarily from another person or medium instead of the Bible itself. If you find that your spiritual life heavily depends on the next sermon your hear or Christian video you watch, then there is something badly missing in your Christian life.

What is important here is the discipline of reading the entire Bible. Those who have read from Genesis to Revelation will testify that it is an immensely fulfilling experience - that is, if it has been read with sincere faith and with wholehearted devotion. Most of all, they would find that the Scriptures are profoundly relevant to their daily life.

The relevance of the Bible can be found in some of the most unexpected Scriptures. When Christians find that everything around them is falling apart despite their best effort to be faithful to their Saviour, then the book of Jeremiah - a seemingly depressing book! - can be most pertinent. The prayers (and complaints) of the prophet in the midst of suffering and persecution may well be the honest prayers we want to pray in our own struggles (Jer 12;1-6; 20:7-12; 32:16-25). The message of hope and promise in the most dire situations in Jeremiah 30-33 may well be the most uplifting experience when God uses it to speak to us. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jer 33:3)

If Jeremiah can be relevant to our circumstances, much more are other Scriptures. The Psalms have almost all types of prayer that we want to pray - and sing! The book of Job has much to say to those of us who talk too much and fail to listen when others are in distress - think about Job's counsellors! Genesis - apart from the rich theology in the creation account - has much to say about God's love and his dealings with his people (such as, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph). Try to read through 2 Chronicles in one setting and you will be inspired to seek the Lord and rely on God rather than human effort. Whenever a king did that, the nation thrived and miracles happened! (Check the accounts of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Jotham and Hezekiah.) Take time to read the Bible, and you will be amazed how much God will speak to you!

We don't have a "radical" view of Scriptures!

Another reason why we enjoy everything else more the Scriptures is that we do not have a "radical" view of what the Bible really is. We are not "radical" enough to acknowledge that the Bible "is" the only source of God's written revelation. We do not quite realise that all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16); that the Holy Spirit is the author superintending every text; that the Bible is nothing less than the very "Word of God". It is through the Scriptures that God has spoken and continues to speak. It should be our consuming passion, and indeed it will be if we take the time to meditate on it again and again and again!

Don't settle on the second best! Read the Bible - yourself!

How about the role of pastors? ===============================

While believers have the ultimate responsibility for their own Christian life, pastors have a role to play too. Obviously we as pastors should do our best to implement programs that encourage people to read the Bible. However, the most important question we should ask ourselves is whether we suffer from the above problems in the first place. Do we actually enjoy other things more than the Bible? Do we enjoy reading Christian books - even devotional materials - more than the Bible itself? Do we spend more time on consulting commentaries and study tools than on reading the Scriptures devotionally? While we do have our favourite Scriptures, do we fail to realise that most of the Bible is profoundly relevant to both our daily life and ministry? Do we have a consuming passion for the Word of God?

Our love (or the lack of it) for the Scriptures will be reflected in our own Christian life, in our ministry, and ultimately in the life of the people we seek to serve. Let us stop to be so busy that a Bible-centred spiritual life is no longer our priority. Let us meet with God afresh through his eternal Word.

- Siu Fung Wu <>