Chapter 15—The Value of Bible Study
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.” The word of God is like a treasure house, containing
everything that is essential to perfect the man of God. We do not
appreciate the Bible as we should. We do not have a proper estimate
of the richness of its stores, nor do we realize the great necessity of
searching the Scriptures for ourselves. Men neglect the study of the
word of God in order to pursue some worldly interest, or to engage
in the pleasures of the time. Some trivial affair is made an excuse for
ignorance of the Scriptures given by inspiration of God. But anything
of an earthly character might better be put off, than this all-important
study, that is to make us wise unto eternal life.
My heart aches as I see men—even those who profess to be look-
ing for Christ’s coming—devoting their time and talents to circulating
books that contain nothing concerning the special truths for our time,—
books of narrative, books of biography, books of men’s theories and
speculations. The world is full of such books; they can be had any-
where; but can the followers of Christ engage in so common a work
when there is crying need for God’s truth on every hand? It is not our
mission to circulate such works. There are thousands of others to do
this, who have as yet no knowledge of anything better. We have a
definite mission, and we ought not to turn from it to side issues, em-
ploying men and means to bring to the attention of the people books
that have no bearing upon the present truth.
Do you pray for the advancement of the truth? Then work for it,
and show that your prayers rise from sincere and earnest hearts. God
does not work miracles where He has provided means by which the
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work may be accomplished. Use your time and talents in His service,
and He will not fail to work with your efforts. If the farmer fails to
plow and sow, God does not work a miracle to undo the results of his
neglect. Harvest time finds his fields barren—there are no sheaves to
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