“Think About It”

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 16

“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” (Proverbs 16.20)

I start every day with bible reading. It is a critical habit that gets my day started right. However, a couple weeks ago, someone asked me about what I read that morning and I couldn’t remember. I remember reading the words, but nothing stuck…

I suspect we’ve all found ourselves here before. We check the bible reading box for the day but we’re not sure what we just read. Which begs the question, what value does it offer if we don’t remember it?

An important discipline in spiritual development is meditating on truth and looking for ways to apply it. The language of this Proverb suggests not simply a time investment but resting our mind knowing the value it offers. Consider these other verses: 

“Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1.1-2)

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1.23-25)

Reading God’s Word is vitally important, but without extended thought, we will forget. Notice that hearing and doing are what produce blessedness (James 1.22). 

We are conditioned to live on impulse and minimal information. The media offers sound bites and Twitter gives us 140 characters from which we are encouraged to form opinions. What results are often “firecracker reactions” that emotionally drive people to ignorant beliefs and create deep-seeded tensions. Our present cultural and political dynamic accentuates the folly of impetuous living. It never leads to positive outcomes and creates constant fear of the next moment. 

We sometimes take this shallow approach to God’s word. We minimize the depth of God’s wisdom by relegating important truths to bumper stickers and catchy blurbs on social media. However, wisdom is a process that develops with patience and grace. Much like a diamond in the rough, it takes time and effort to uncover the beauty of God’s wisdom in our life. 

There is vitality in focused thought on God’s word. It is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119.105). It enlightens us to right choices in difficult situations. We are foolish to be satisfied with a shallow investment in God’s Word. So, don’t just read your bible… Think about it. 

“Blessed is the man who meditates day and night on God’s word. He is like a tree planted by a stream that bear fruit and thrives. In everything he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1.1-3, paraphrased)

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