In his book, The Hermeneutical Spiral, Grant Osborne mentions an interesting point about personal Bible study.
The big problem with Bible study today is that we think it should be easier than other things we do. We study recipes for quality meals, how-to books for all kind of things – carpentry, plumbing, automobile maintenance and so on – and read vociferously for our hobbies. Why do we think the Bible is the only subject we should not have to study?!… What if we spent as much time and money on Bible study as we do our hobbies? What if we took the same amount we spend on golf clubs and courses or on skiing equipment and skiing trips, and put it into Bible study? Yes, encyclopedias, commentaries and other reference materials are expensive. But so is everything we do. The question is about priorities: what is important enough for our time and money? (25)
Mr. Osborne’s words may be pretty harsh, but are they true? How much time, money and resources do we invest in the study of God’s Word? Consider some benefits as to why we should invest in studying God’s Word: (1) to know truth (Acts 17:11; John 8:31-32), (2) to be blessed (Psalm 1:1-2), (3) to keep from sin (Psalm 119:11), (4) to promote a healthy and peaceful life (Proverbs 3:1-2), (5) to receive guidance (Psalm 119:105), (6) to know Christ and the way to eternal life or making one wise to salvation (John 5:38-39; 2 Timothy 3:14-17), (7) to increase our faith (Romans 10:17) and (8) to teach others (Ephesians 6:17; 1 Peter 3:15).
There are many wonderful and admirable fields man can study, but it is only God’s Word that reveals to us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). The study of psychology may help people with some of their problems, but it cannot alone properly answer some of life’s most important questions, such as “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” The study of medicine may cure diseases, but only the Great Physician can cure man’s greatest “sickness” (Matthew 9:9-13). The study of astronomy may teach us about the stars, but it is limited in teaching us about the One who made the stars (Psalm 19:1). The study of nutrition may contribute to one’s health and wellness, but it cannot cause us to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1-2). Therefore, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
