The value of Bible reading

Chris Bolinger June 4, 2023

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This is the first in a series of articles on Bible reading.

To reflect biblical principles in your leadership, you first need to understand those principles. Reading the Bible regularly helps you gain a deep understanding of and appreciation for the leadership principles—and examples—found in Scripture.

But there are many other good reasons to read the Bible regularly. Here are three.

1. Regular Bible reading draws you closer to God.

God reveals Himself to us in many ways, including the world around us. (See Romans 1:20.) The primary way that God reveals Himself, however, is through the Bible.

The Old Testament shows us that God created us in His image, loves us, is faithful to us, and wants us—His rebellious people—to be reconciled to Him. The New Testament tells the story of Jesus and his earliest followers. One of those followers, the Apostle John, explains why the New Testament was written: so that, when you read it, "you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31, ESV).

The more you read the Bible, the better you get to know God. The better you know God, the more you want to communicate with Him and follow Him.

2. The Bible provides guidance and strength.

David describes God's Word as "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Whatever path you're on, the Bible shows you the right steps to take, through elements such as:

• ommandments on living a life that is pleasing to God
• Wisdom, which is found throughout the Bible, especially in Old Testament books such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and in the teachings of Jesus
• Stories of people who followed God's direction—and those who didn't—and the consequences of their actions

According to the Apostle Paul, the entire Bible "is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).

Of course, when you are stressed out, struggling, down, frustrated, discouraged, angry, or suffering, you don't want teaching, reproof, correction, or training. You want encouragement. Reassurance. Strength. Peace. Hope.

Whatever you need, and whenever you need it, the Bible provides it. Sometimes called "God's love letter to us," the Bible reminds us throughout that God loves each of us deeply, regardless of what we've done in the past, and stands ready to help us with our current challenges.

3. Regular Bible reading improves your behavior.

People who read the Bible regularly exhibit better moral behavior than people who don't. In fact, the frequency with which you read your Bible is a more reliable prediction of your moral behavior than traditional measures of spirituality, such as church attendance and prayer.

This revelation comes from research conducted by Arnold Cole, Ed.D. and Pamela Caudill Jordan, PhD. Their statistical analyses reveal that, controlling for other factors—such as age, gender, church attendance, and prayer—Christians who read the Bible four or more days a week are:

• Significantly less likely to engage in risky, immoral behavior such as abusing alcohol, having sex outside of marriage, viewing pornography, or gambling
• Significantly more likely to share their faith and disciple others

The fact that reading the Bible regularly offers so many benefits shouldn't surprise us. After all, God's Word is described as "living and active" and sharp enough to "divid[e] soul and spirit, joints and marrow" (Hebrews 4:12, NIV). James says that "the implanted word" can "save your souls" (James 1:21, NIV), and in Isaiah God says that His Word "will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11, NIV).

Even when you know the benefits, however, you still may struggle to read the Bible regularly. The next article in this series will explore some reasons why.

If you want to get into a rhythm of daily Bible reading, then I encourage you to take my three-month Bible reading challenge. For details, go to 3monthchallenge.com.

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Chris Bolinger is the author of three men’s devotionals – 52 Weeks of Strength for Men, Daily Strength for Men, and Fuerzas para Cada Día para el Hombre – and the co-host of the Throwing Mountains podcast. He splits his time between northeast Ohio and southwest Florida. Against the advice of medical professionals, he remains a die-hard fan of Cleveland pro sports teams. Find him at mensdevotionals.com. Learn More »

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