What’s the Big Deal About Reading the Bible?

Reading the Bible is hard and frustrating at times. With this, we begin to wonder… Why is the Bible such a big deal? Is it sinful not to read it?

These questions are not wrong to ask, but we must not let them linger. We have to put on our Biblical goggles and jump into the big Book of Truth!

Weighty questions deserve straightforward answers, if possible. So that is exactly what I am giving you in this blog post. 😉

Is it a Sin Not to Read the Bible?

First things first.

The Bible never specifically says that we are bound to hell if we don’t read the Scriptures, but it does say that it exists for our learning (Romans 15:4).

After all, it is God’s words breathed into man (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It also says we should not live on bread alone but by the words of God (Matthew 4:4).

Billy Graham described it like this:

The Bible is not an option; it is a necessity. You cannot grow spiritually strong without it.

Why Should I Read the Bible?

Right off the bat, a clear picture is painted: If we are not reading God’s words, we are missing key ingredients to a spiritually strong life. But which ingredients are we missing and why are they important?

Because let’s be honest, the big book seems kind of out of style for 20th-century humans.

What’s the Big Deal About Reading the Bible?

Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father who has spoken through His Son. He has also spoken through many others throughout the Bible.

This gives us the ability to better understand why God’s Word is such a big deal.

1. The Bible Helps Us Discern Our Thoughts & Intentions

As humans, we have tons of miscellaneous thoughts and intentions.

As children of God, these thoughts and intentions should glorify Him, not the world.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)

In his sermon The Warnings and Rewards of the Word of God, Charles H. Spurgeon said, “The revelation of God enriches the mind with knowledge, the heart with comfort, the life with holiness, the whole man with divine strength. He that studies, understands, and appropriates the statutes of the Lord is rich in the truest sense— rich in holiness for this life, and rich in preparedness for the life to come. Thou hast mines of treasure, if thou hast the Word of God dwelling richly in thy heart.“

To know if we are walking the right path in life, we need the guidance of our Creator’s words. Without a musical sheet, how does an instrumentalist know which note to play?

Only with intentional effort and time will the instrumentalist be able to recall the notes on demand.

This leads us to the second ingredient for a spiritually strong life.

2. Reading the Bible Prepares Us For Battle

Yes, we can accept God as our Lord and Savior without ever picking up the Bible and may be able to survive on sermons alone.

But if we never open the Bible for ourselves, we are not prepared for the battles that are heading straight towards us.

The survival rate is significantly low in this kind of trippy situation.

We are not only fighting a mental and physical war, but we are also fighting a spiritual one. This war requires a stronger material than mere steel.

Satan is always trying to steal our peace, hope, joy, and overall mental well-being. Without knowing God’s Word, we cannot fight against it.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

Like the aforementioned instrumentalist, we need to be able to recall verses of wisdom when a situation depends on it.

God has given us access to weapons and wisdom through His Word, so why not accept them?

 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:14-17 (CSB); emphesis added

The last thing we want is to go into a war without armor.

Without storing Scripture in our hearts, we are subjected to false beliefs, temptations, and various sins without recognizing them as evil.

The Bottom Line

The Bible is crucial to our relationship with God. It is the only firm foundation to stand on as we traverse this crazy life.

In summary, to not read the Bible is like putting food in our mouths but never chewing. That’s a sure-fire way to choke. We also cannot absorb the nutrients of foods that way.

The Bible is our spiritual food. If we never chew on its words, we are very malnourished Christians.

Without the Bible, we don’t have:

1. The knowledge and wisdom to greater glorify God as He calls us to.
2. Armor for the seasons of spiritual, mental, and physical battles.

I encourage you to read the Bible for yourself. Come to know the God you have chosen to follow.

It’s a beautiful thing when we draw near to the Savior!

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Next month, we’re talking about what it means to stay consistent in reading the Bible and how to do so. If you would like to get notified when that content is posted, be sure to join my newsletter!