The book of the Lord was once lost in the house of God (2 Kings 22–23). When it was found by Hilkiah the priest, it was brought to Josiah the king, and major reformations resulted from reading God’s Word. This needs to be repeated in our day.
Evaluation: Am I Neglecting the Bible?
How often do I read it? The Bible is used as a coffee table ornament or a keepsake album. As our bodies need daily food, so our souls need daily food (Matthew 5:6; 6:11; 1 Peter 2:1–2).
Do I attend Bible school at every opportunity? It is disturbing to observe how many come to the worship service in comparison to those who attended the Bible school. Do I attend special Bible studies such as VBS/family Bible school, gospel meetings, and lectureships?
Consequences: What Happens?
When the Bible is neglected, ignorance reigns. Hosea 4:6 is appropriate in our day: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Second Thessalonians 1:7–9 teaches that the ignorant will be victims of God’s eternal vengeance when Jesus comes. Where ignorance reigns, error runs rampant (cf. Matthew 22:23–32).
Ignorance leads to weak faith and worldliness in churches. Members become the plaything of every wind of false doctrine that blows. Judges 2:6–15 reveals the steps of spiritual illiteracy: first, spiritual illiteracy; second, abandonment of God; third, degeneration into idolatry; and fourth, punishment from God.
Correction: What Can I Do?
What can we do to correct neglect? Let us hunger for God (Psalm 42:1) and a knowledge of God (Matthew 5:6). Let us become daily, serious Bible students (Psalm 1:1–2; 2 Timothy 2:15). Let us attend every service, class, meeting, and lecture at our congregations (Hebrews 10:25). Let us build good, usable religious libraries at home. Let us subscribe to good religious periodicals and podcasts.
Let us “wear” our Bibles out. Charles Spurgeon once held a worm-eaten Bible which could be looked through from one side to the other when held up to the light. He said, “Help me to be a bookworm like that.” Let us never forget that if we keep our Bibles open, we will not find the door to heaven shut.
“Blessed is he who reads.“ – Revelation 1:3
