“Do you understand what you are reading?” TheEthiopian eunuch answered Phillip, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” (Act 8:30-31). In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained, When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Mat 13:19). Understanding is crucial. My original intent for this SW was how to better understand the Bible. However, while preparing this thought, I read several studies that raddled me to the core. Rarely do statistics have this affect, but these showed a much greater issue.
But despite the large percentage of Americans who believe the Bible is the word of God, only one-third of Americans read it at least once a week—15 percent read it daily and only another 18 percent read it one or more times a week. Another 12 percent read the Bible less than weekly, but at least once a month. More than half of all Americans read the Bible less than once a month, including 24 percent who say they never read it and 6 percent who can’t recall the last time they read the Bible (George Gallup Jr. Jim Castelli). Of over 2 billion Christians in the world, less than 30% will ever read through the entire Bible. The fact is over 82% of Christian Americans only read their Bibles on Sundays while in church (Ponce Foundation).
Immediately, this thought raced through my mind, “No wonder believers and our nation are in such a mess!” My life verse is Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. I’ve spent my life helping people better understand the Word of God. But if people don’t read it, how can they understand it? This begs the question, why don’t people read God’s Word?
The excuse I’ve heard most throughout my ministry, “I’m too busy and don’t have the time.” Yet, in all honesty, that’s probably the worse and the most dishonest reason one can make. That would be like a starving individual saying, “I never have enough time to eat.” The first step is to examine your priorities in life. Going to a ball game or watching a TV program, etc. never takes priority over reading the Bible. I advise those who don’t read to begin reading for ten minutes a day and you will soon want to read more. Others say, “I don’t understand it when I read it.” One mistake people make is they begin at the front of the book by reading Genesis. If they make it to Leviticus, they stop. Even worst, they immediately begin reading Revelation. Start by reading John’s Gospel and then read Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Others say the Bible is just ancient history and irrelevant in our modern culture. Although the Bible contains history and science, that is not its intended purpose. It is a revelation of Christ and tells us God’s original plan, how that became corrupt, and how He provided for man’s restoration through His Son Jesus. God does not change; He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8). The words of Scripture are as relevant, compelling, and current today as the day they were written.
Not reading the Bible leaves us without knowledge about how to live the Christian life; we will become spiritually malnourished; the biblical illiterate person can easily be deceived and defenseless against the attacks of Satan. Imagine going into war with a nation without any ammunition or information about our enemy. Without knowledge of the Bible, we can only assume the character of God. Jesus told the apostles, the Holy Spirit . . . will bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (Jn 14:26). For us, we know what Jesus said by reading the Gospels. For the Holy Spirit, to bring to remembrance, we must have something in our minds to remember.
Note several other truths about reading the Word. At times, it will make all of us uncomfortable; those with sin in their life stay willfully ignorant because their deeds of darkness do not enjoy exposure to light. Second, we’re not meant to understand everything in the Bible the first time we read it. If we did, we could read it once and put it on our shelf. Christianity is a lifelong journey. I’ve been studying the Bible for almost five decades and I still don’t understand every verse but learn more each time I read it. And third, understanding is not a deep theological comprehension, but a practical knowledge of how to live daily in our contemporary times.
Peter reminds us we are born again through the living and enduring word; for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God (1Pe 1:23). The values, wisdom, and truths of the Bible are timeless and a guidebook to all we need as a Christian. Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (2Pe 1:3).
Sustaining Word for the Week: The question is not Do you understand what you are reading? But have you read?