A small boy took the Bible one day from the table in his home and asked, “Is this God’s book, Mother?”
“Certainly it is” was her reply.
“Well,” continued the boy, “don’t you think we might as well send it back to God? We don’t use it here, do we?”
We may smile at this, but it reveals a sad lack in the life of that home. There are many reasons for reading the Bible. We need to read it because it is the Book of life: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” When we try to “live by bread alone” we feed the body but starve the soul.
A man died of starvation in Olympia, Washington. After his death it was discovered that he had nearly $1,000,000 on deposit in local banks. He never spoke of his money, even when the physicians were trying to counteract the effects of malnutrition. He let his body starve, with plenty of money available to buy food to feed him. Are you letting your soul starve, even though the Word of God is at hand to provide you with life-giving spiritual food?
Perhaps you think you haven’t time to read the Bible every day. With almost every kind of machine there is provided a book of instruction. The Bible is the Book that goes with mankind. Think of having sixteen waking hours every day to travel the highways of life and no time to read the Guide Book! Then how can we expect to follow the right road? No wonder so many wrecks are strewn along life’s pathway!
If we neglect to read the Bible, we are missing the best things in life. Earthly things do not satisfy the heart. The Bible is the Book of the heart. It shows how we may possess and enjoy real life. A worthwhile life and satisfaction in life are found by reading and receiving the Word of life into our hearts.