WHY DO CHRISTIANS FAIL TO STUDY GOD’S WORD?

Victor M. Eskew

 

            A diligent study of God’s Word yields many benefits to the disciple of Christ.  A list of some 30 to 40 benefits could be easily compiled.  The benefits of study should not be underestimated by any Christian.  It is for this reason that we have been commanded to study.  Paul writes:  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

            However, many Christians do not study as they ought.  Thus, we ask the question:  “Why do Christians fail to study God’s Word?”  The answers to this question are many.  Let’s consider some of the dominate reasons.  First, some Christians are not interested in God’s Word.  Yes, they admit the Bible is inspired, that is, God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Too, they admit that God has commanded us to study the Bible.  But, they are just not interested in the divine message.  They have read portions of many sections of the Bible:  Genesis, the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, two or three of the epistles, and several chapters of Revelation.  Nothing they read sparks any interest in them.  To them, the Bible is dull, boring, and irrelevant.         

            There are other Christians who want to study the Bible, but when they begin to do so, they do not understand hardly anything they are reading.  The names are difficult.  The subject matter is not familiar.  The purpose of the book is not understood.  By the time they read a chapter, they are thoroughly confused.  They have attempted to study several times.  Each time the same result happens.  They walk away not understanding what they have read. 

            Another group of Christians will tell us that they just do not have the necessary time to study the Bible.  They work 40 or 50 hours a week.  They have family responsibilities.  Too, they need some free time in order to rejuvenate after a long week at work.  Trying to carve out an hour a day for Bible study is impossible, they say.  Some will commit to 15 minutes of Bible reading a day, but study for them is out of the question.

            A fourth reason Christians do not study is because they are not convinced of its importance.  They learned the gospel plan of salvation from the Bible, but they do not understand the Word’s benefit to them as they seek to live the Christian life.  They have heard lessons about the Bible’s value, but they do not feel that they have been the beneficiaries thereof.  They reason that if the Bible is not going to profit them why should they invest hours of time studying the Bible. 

            We could list other reasons, but these four seem to be the main reasons for a lack of Bible study.  Somehow, we need to rid ourselves of these beliefs and hinderances.   We need to become “a people of the Book” once again.  We need to be a religious group that is known to be able to give a “thus saith the Lord” for all we believe and practice.  We need to become followers of Christ who will bank our lives on the trustworthiness of “that which is written.”  We need to be members of the church whose lives manifest the benefits of God’s Word to those who are lost.  They question is:  “How do we do these things?”

            Let’s suggest a few things.  First, we must be convinced that the Bible reveals the mind of God to man.  In other words, we must be absolutely certain that the Bible contains words written by men who were guided by the Holy Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:20-21).  This means that we need to engage in study of evidences of the inspiration of the Bible.  If the Bible is really a book from God, it is set apart from every other book on the earth.  The Christian will realize that this is God’s message to me!

            Second, we must be fully persuaded that we can understand the Bible.  Paul told the Ephesians that he had written the revelation of the mystery of God unto them in few words; “whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:3-4).  Yes, the Bible is understandable.  Many people have understood it in the past.  Some of those who understood it never graduated from college.  In fact, many of them never graduated from high school.  These individuals were often very poor.  They worked hard in the fields and on the farm.  These individuals knew the truth.  Proclaimed the truth.  Defended the truth.  They spent hours late at night under the dim glow of an oil lamp in order to glean an understanding of God’s Word.  If those men and women could understand the Bible, so can we!

            Third, we must learn “how” to study the Bible.  A few basic concepts and a few tools of Bible study will enable a person to sit for hours at a time studying the Good Book.  If one has been taught how to study properly, there are several different kinds of studies he can conduct that will add variety to study in addition to knowledge.  Those who learn to study must be aware of two things.  Study is not easy.  And, it takes a long period of time to become a mature student of the Scriptures.

            Fourth, if a person really learns to study, he will be taught how to find the lessons of the text.  The lessons involve the student in this concept:  “this is how the Bible can be applied to my life.”  As a person begins to apply the Scriptures to his life, his life begins to change (Rom. 12:2).  He grows.  He matures.  He becomes purer.  His priorities change.  His desires in this life change.  His time, talents, and treasures begin to be used for spiritual things.  The person becomes stronger and more confident in his Christian living.  He experiences joy and peace and hope that he has never felt in the past.  He realizes that God’s Word is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than a twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

            In Acts 20, we read “Paul’s Farewell Address to the Elders of Ephesus” (Acts 20:17-35).  In this address, we see the value Paul placed on God’s Word.  He said he taught the Ephesians “publicly, and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).  He had preached to them “the kingdom of God” (Acts 20:25).  He told them that he had “not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27).  For the space of three years he had also warned “every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).  As he reaches the conclusion of his exhortation, he commends them to God and to His Word.  “And now, brethren, I command you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). 

            Yes, God’s Word is valuable to the people of God.  Let’s overcome the barriers that keep us from studying the Bible.  Let’s once again be known as a “Bible toting, Scripture quoting” group of people.  When we come to the final judgment, we will be glad we did (John 12:48).