by Jerry Senn
Many are unmotivated to study the Bible
As I said earlier, there’s a great difference between reading the Bible and studying it. Reading is something we can do leisurely, but study suggests labor, serious and diligent work. Discipline is a requisite.
It may be that the answer is just out-and-out negligence. We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult and not because it is dull and boring, but because it is work, effort and personal engagement.
I’m not suggesting that we are really lazy, but it’s a matter of lacking personal interest in what God has to say to us. We may be more interested in what a politician is saying or what is happening in the life of a famous celebrity than we are in what our Father wants us to hear.
“Carl Barth, a famous Swiss theologian once wrote that all human sin finds its roots in three basic human problems. He included in his list of rudimentary sins, the sin of pride, dishonesty, and slothfulness. None of these basic evils is instantly eradicated by spiritual regeneration (conversion). As Christians we must struggle against these problems through our entire [Christian lives]. None of us is immune. If we are going to deal with the discipline of Bible study, we must recognize at the outset that we will need the grace of God to persevere” (RC Sproul).
We need to avoid thinking that what we’ve been taught by others is always worthy of being accepted on face value. It’s important that each believer have a personal faith, based on our personal study, not so much on what we’ve always heard or read in the past. (See Acts 17:11).
Yes, we need to listen to trustworthy teachers, but we should never simply adopt their views without personal examination. To do so may lead us away from the truth of God’s word. This may also cloud the truth or even endanger our souls.
Motivation to dig deeper into God’s word for ourselves begins by seeing the Bible as a living Word (Hebrews 4:12). It’s a love letter to open with interest and “hang onto” every line, as we delight in words from someone special
“Holy Bible, book divine. Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to teach me which I am;
Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Savior’s love;
Mine thou art to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward.
Mine to comfort in distress, Suffering in this wilderness;
Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death;
Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou holy book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine.”
John Burton (w 1803), #433