This post won't be anything original, but rather a quote from someone else. The quote is so weighty, though, I couldn't resist putting it here for your edification. It comes from a wonderful little book entitled, 444 Surprising Quotes about the Bible by Isabella D. Bunn, Bethany House Publishers, Bloomington, MN, 2005.
"We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy." R.C. Sproul
1. Difficult to understand?
- Prov. 8:9, "They [the words of God's mouth, v. 8] are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge."
- John 7:17, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
- John 16:13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:..."
- 1 Cor. 2:12, "Now we have received...the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
- 2 Tim. 2:7, "Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
2. Dull and boring?
- Much, if not the majority of the Bible, is action-oriented, e.g. the ACTS of the Apostles. Consider that a major section of the old testament is the historical books, Joshua - Esther (385 of 1158 pages in an Oxford wide margin), which is running narrative with only occasional genealogical or geographic interludes (e.g. Josh. 15-21; 1 Chr. 1-9). That's 1/3 of the OT, not counting Genesis (50 ch.), over half of Exodus, and the other narrative sections of the law, wisdom books, and prophets.
- When we come to the new testament, we see a similar proportion: 207 of 348 pages. are the gospel and Acts narratives, well over half of it, not counting the Revelation (22 more pages).
- Beloved, God could have made it all like Ex. 25 - Lev. 8 (very slow stretch of the scriptures) or one long philosophical discourse, but he didn't, and I think that part of his design may have had our infirmities in mind. Thank you, Lord.
3. Work!
- Eccl. 12:13, "...much study is a weariness of the flesh."
- 1 Tim. 5:17, "...[the elders] who labour in the word and doctrine."
- 2 Tim. 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
4. Lack of intelligence?
- In "the time of the end," (Dan. 12:4), "knowledge shall be increased."
- Also, men in the last days will be "Ever learning," (armed with Google and Wikipedia) "and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
5. Lack of passion?
- "...the spirit indeed is willing,..." (Mt. 26:41)
6. Laziness!
- "...but the flesh is weak." (Mt. 26:41)
- "...and prayer [and Bible study--DJ] is, after all, work--the most strenuous work in all the world." Amy Carmichael, Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur, Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, PA, 1996.
- "If thou wert sick for want of God, how swiftly wouldst thou move." F. Faber
Conclusion
- "herefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, alway abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:58
- "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them...Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them..." 1 Tim. 4:13-16
