boy_reading_bibleI was wondering, how many algebra and geometry fans are there among my readers? Some of you probably loved learning about math in school, but many of us struggled. For me, it wasn’t that I couldn’t learn the concepts in higher math. I just couldn’t help wondering why I needed to know how to find the area of a triangle or what “X” equaled.

The same problem can be true about reading the Bible. Why should you spend your time learning what the Bible has to say? At some point in your life, you’ve probably picked up the Bible and read parts of it, only to give up because it didn’t seem to be important to your everyday life.

The Bible is a very old book, and getting helpful meaning out of it takes some real effort.

[By the way, next week I plan to give you some tips that will make Bible reading much easier.]

We have to keep in mind that the Bible is NOT like any other book, ancient or otherwise. God has given us this book to answer five of life’s questions:

#1 What is God like?

#2 Why do we exist?

#3 What is stealing our joy?

#4 What is the solution to that problem?

#5 How do we live our everyday lives?

Before we will put out the energy to learn what’s in the Bible, we must see the importance of getting those questions answered. Since I don’t want this article to get too long, let me focus on just two of them.

The first one is: What is God like? A careful reading of the Bible will correct any false ideas you have about God. Ask ten different people what they think God is like, and you may get ten different answers.

Why does that matter?

What you believe about God changes both the way you live and the way you die. The jihadists in the Middle East are living their lives in a different way than we are because they believe something different about who God is and what He is like.

Here’s another example: Suppose you believe that God is so loving that He will ultimately forgive almost everybody. Maybe you may do a few religious activities to keep Him happy, give a little money, and live your life without thinking much about Him. Imagine, however, how terrible it will be if that comfortable belief you have is not true. What if (as the Bible teaches) God actually only forgives those who turn away from their sins and trust what Christ has done to pay for their wickedness. By believing something wrong about what God is like, you will miss out on God’s eternal forgiveness. You see, the Bible destroys “… speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and [it takes] every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Here is another one of the questions the Bible answers: How do we live our everyday lives? We all need God’s answer to that question. Since the Bible was given to us by the One who made us, it is the best way to learn how to overcome things like fear, worry, and anxiety. We all need help with those negative emotions.

Listen to this amazing promise from Jesus Christ. Jesus said that He taught us the things that He did “… so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11).

The Bible shows us who God is, so our eternal future can be secure, and it teaches us how to live our lives now. When you get to know the Bible, then you too can say “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding…. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:103–105).

Next week I’ll talk about HOW to read the Bible. In the meantime, though, you are welcome to join us as we learn the Bible together here at Bethel Chapel Church every Sunday at 11:00 am.