How to Profit From Reading the Bible

Reading the Bible plays a central role in our spiritual life. Peter writes: “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Every believer knows that he “must be eager for the Word of God” and that the Bible is indispensable to him, but why does the practical reality of Bible reading often look quite different?

Be honest: Have you ever read through the Bible completely? Do you find reading the Bible boring or do you read your Bible with pleasure and passion? Why do I have no problem checking 50 posts on Facebook – but despair already at the tenth verse of God's Word?

Could our problem with reading the Bible be that we read it for the wrong reasons or simply read it wrong? We are often told THAT we should read the Bible, but have you ever asked yourself WHY or HOW to read your Bible?

I. WHY DO YOU READ THE BIBLE? 

There are a variety of motivations to read the Bible. Here are a few that are less than optimal:

Sense of guilt/duty: "Ok, today I read my chapter. God will probably be satisfied with me."

Teaching material: You are reading the Bible to prepare for a Bible study or devotional. There is nothing wrong with reading the Bible in preparation for a biblical lecture –  it is even compulsory. The problem arises when we only see the Bible as a source of information for teaching material.

Status: Do I read the Bible to impress others? Do I want to be praised by others about my knowledge of the Bible?

Have you become guilty of one of the above reasons?

To find the right motivation to read the Bible, it is helpful to ask yourself a simple question: Why did God decide to give us the Bible? 

Here are a few answers to this question, which are also very good reasons for reading the Bible:

God wants to reveal Himself to us.  God in heaven wants us to get to know Him here on earth. For this He gave us the Bible. There we discover who God really is. We learn about His power, righteousness, compassion, wrath, love, goodness, faithfulness, and holiness.

God wants us to know ourselves. When we read the Bible, we are like “a man observing his natural face in a mirror” (James 1:23). We learn to see ourselves through the eyes of God.

Jesus is to be exalted. Reading the Bible is not primarily about increasing knowledge, rather to develop a close relationship with Jesus Christ, the Author of the Bible. Jesus once said: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

God gave us the Bible that we might live a holy life in this world and fulfill our purpose. The Bible shows us how we can live a God-pleasing life and equips us for our God-given mission in this world.

Take a moment to think about your motivation to read the Bible. Why do I actually read my Bible? Is it necessary to make a correction to my motives in reading the Bible?

II. HOW DO YOU READ YOUR BIBLE? 

Jesus once asked a scribe an interesting and important question: “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” (Luke 10:26). So it comes down to the manner of reading. Let me give you some suggestions that could be helpful for you to “correctly” and effectively read the Bible:

With great anticipation.

If you begin reading the Bible without anticipation and with doubt, you will not receive anything. “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7). The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus because they did not believe that He was alive and had not expected to meet Him.

Before you read, be aware that the Bible is highly effective. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

“For the word of God is living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12).

Expect God to give you a personal message, specific to your situation, in your daily Bible reading.

Daily and persistently. 

In 1 Timothy 4:13 Paul writes: “Give attention to reading.” It is absolutely essential to read the Bible daily and persistently. Routine is the keyword here. Whether in book format or today in digital format – it is important that you read the Bible!  

A good Bible reading plan may be a good help. Find one that guides you through the entire Bible and keep at it until you have completed it. As soon as you have completed one reading plan you can look for a new one.  

Reading the Bible in a different translation every year may also be a helpful incentive. You are guaranteed to discover new beauties and details in God’s Word. If you read the Bible digitally, you may not even need to buy the various translations. Most of them can be downloaded free of charge onto your device or read online. 

Depending on God. 

To accurately understand the Word of God, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit. Although Bible commentaries or interpretations can sometimes be useful, they should never replace the speaking of the Holy Spirit through the Word.

Since Scripture is given by “inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), it is simultaneously the highest and surest authority when Bible questions arise.

We cannot truly understand the Bible solely with our human mind. “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Unless the Holy Spirit opens the Scriptures to us it will be like a fountain without water or clouds without rain. Therefore, it is advisable to pray before, during, and even after reading the Bible, that God may enlighten us through His Spirit and unlock the Scriptures for us. 

Read and live it out.

If you do not put what you read into practical action, then you read the Bible to your own condemnation.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

It does not suffice, after reading, to say, “Yes, this is true.” Before you close your Bible again, imagine the following question: From what I just read, what can I put into action? How can I improve myself? To which areas do I need to pay more attention? How does this Bible passage help me make the right decision in my situation?

I will admit that reading the Bible is not always an easy matter. Effective Bible reading takes effort, determination and endurance, but the consequences are inevitable. The Word of God will change your life, others will notice that you're a reader of the Bible, and the more you read, the more difficult it will be for you to stop!

Roland Stieben