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What Shall Our Children Read?
113
The Bible
Above all, take time to read the Bible—the Book of books. A
daily study of the Scriptures has a sanctifying, uplifting influence
upon the mind. Bind the Holy Volume to your hearts. It will prove
to you a friend and guide in perplexity.
Both old and young neglect the Bible. They do not make it their
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study, the rule of their life. Especially are the young guilty of this
neglect. Most of them find time to read other books, but the Book
that points out the way to eternal life is not daily studied. Idle stories
are attentively read, while the Bible is neglected. This Book is our
guide to a higher, holier life. The youth would pronounce it the
most interesting book they ever read had not their imagination been
perverted by the reading of fictitious stories.
Youthful minds fail to reach their noblest development when
they neglect the highest source of wisdom—the word of God. That
we are in God’s world, in the presence of the Creator; that we are
made in His likeness; that He watches over us and loves us and cares
for us—these are wonderful themes for thought, and lead the mind
into broad, exalted fields of meditation. He who opens mind and
heart to the contemplation of such themes as these will never be
satisfied with trivial, sensational subjects.
The importance of seeking a thorough knowledge of the Scrip-
tures can hardly be estimated. “Given by inspiration of God,” able to
make us “wise unto salvation,” rendering the man of God “perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works” (
2 Timothy 3:15-17
), the
Bible has the highest claim to our reverent attention. We should not
be satisfied with a superficial knowledge, but should seek to learn
the full meaning of the words of truth, to drink deep of the spirit of
the Holy Oracles.
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