So Many Books…

Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5

 

• Raise your children well.
• Be authentic.
• Resolve conflict.
• Encourage others.
• Find the perfect husband.
• Land the perfect job.
• Show hospitality. 

You name the topic and I am sure you can find a “Christian” book to cover it. I have read at least one in every category over the last few years. They have been good and my knowledge and understanding have  been enhanced by them. But, they are not all there is.

Of course, there are some really bad books out there. I try to get some kind of recommendation on the content before I buy. There are web sites and people I trust that can point me in the right direction. Lately, I have bought a couple of Bible study books that are really good. I have used study guides for a long time because it helps me focus on what I am studying.

As I study the book of Colossians I am amazed at how much territory Paul covers. It is as practical as it is theological. He teaches what Christ did in His death on the cross, the basics of the forgiveness of sin, and the heresy of false teachers. In chapter three he gets downright practical about what our behavior should look like. He doesn’t just tell us what we ought to do, but what we need to remove from our lives in order to honor God and love and serve our neighbors. The study guide I’m using is, “Colossians and Philemon, Continue to Live in Him” by Kathleen Nielson.

If we applied this teaching to our marriages and child rearing practices, we would see great improvement almost immediately: “Take off anger, rage, malice, and slander.” “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” This is sound biblical counsel that would improve any relationship, not to mention our own joy and peace of mind.

Psalm 119 teaches about God’s words, His statutes, and His precepts. It is the longest chapter in the Bible because there is so much to say about the topic. This is just a small portion of what is says the Bible will do for us when we learn what it says and follow it:

(9) keep our way pure, (11) it provides counsel, (28) melts sorrow, (41) brings salvation,        (43, 49) offers hope, (52) brings comfort, (62) teaches us to praise God (which pleases God and brings blessings), (64) shows us God’s steadfast love on earth, (71) it brings good from affliction, (73) gives us understanding (and I think this is not just understanding of God but understanding of the world and what is happening and how we are to respond for the greatest benefit for ourselves and others). Mercy (77), life (93), makes me wiser than my enemies (99), holds me back from evil (101), gives light (130), and brings peace (165).

That is just a sampling! Are these not encouraging things that we can receive from God’s Word?

I am not against using other books about the Bible to help grow our understanding of God and His statutes. What I am seeing is that a study of a book of the Bible adds so much more to our faith, to our understanding, and knowledge so that it isn’t something we want to forfeit.

I also recently used Kathleen Neilson’s study on Proverbs and one on Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. They were also very good at forcing me to dig deeper than I would if I were just reading through those books. There is great wisdom (I guess I should have expected wisdom in the wisdom books!) in these Old Testament books that many of the women I talk to have never studied. Our understanding of the Gospel grows when our understanding of Old Testament teaching grows.

Psalm 119:7 says, “I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.” His righteous rules are most easily accessed through the scriptures, the Word of God. When we know Him through His word, we will praise Him more.

So, read with abandon, but let’s not forgo the blessings that come from knowing and studying God’s word itself – even the Old Testament.  First things first!