Tag Archives: Finding treasure

What is the bible to you, really?

 

For some, the bible is like a special Toy, filled with delightful songs and rhymes that teach of a good, loving, and faithful God.

 

Sometimes the bible becomes a Trouble to those who find its words convicting and offensive to their self-seeking ways. I’ve been there, have you? In fact, the truth of the bible is intended to offend our senses, to convict of us wrong thinking, and to bring us closer to God. To those who reject it, the bible becomes a folly they consider best to ignore. Perhaps they think, “Maybe I’ll consider this later after I’ve lived my life.” Sadly, many never find the time or seize the opportunity to take advantage of the bible’s great comfort, wisdom, joy, purpose and promise for their lives.

 

Still others consider the bible to be a harsh Tyrant that squashes their sense of freedom with stringent lists of rules they think restrict them. They can’t be convinced that their newfound “freedoms” really are chains that enslave them to some other bondage and that the rules that they thought to restrict them are in reality keys that unlock shackled lives and bring freedom from despair and hopelessness. Some use the bible as a Tyrant to persecute and bully others, pointing out all their faults without extending a hand of grace and love.

 

To those who accept it, the bible becomes a resourceful Tool, offering practical helps for dealing with life’s everyday problems, wise counsel in times of trouble, safety in times of storms, direction when they are lost, and God’s purpose for our lives when all seems meaningless.

 

And still for others, the bible is much more than a Toy, a Trouble, a bully Tyrant, or even a helpful Tool to pull out them out of a problem-some situation. For them, the bible is a real Treasure. It’s a personal love story written from the Almighty Creator to them. Memorizing its verses helps them rely on the wisdom and practical helps it offers for everyday living. Singing its songs, psalms, and choruses of praise brings them comfort and strength for today and a certain hope for a better future. It replaces fear with faith, defeating troubles with victorious strategies, anxiety with peace, weakness with power, futile efforts with winning grace.

 

The bible has the power to transform our lives from being separated and lost to being found by God. For those who believe its truth it leads them to become children of God. To those who embrace its mercy and grace it transforms and renews them and makes them humble peacemakers (John 1:12, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 5:9), not a people who are zealous with divisive and destructive words and actions. It opens our eyes, to see our purpose in life, to love God and love others (Philippians 2:3-4, Matthew 22:37-38). It is the assurance that calms all their fears and anxieties on earth and about heaven (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 John 5:13).

 

How we see the bible doesn’t change what it is. But it can change who we become. I hope you’ll take some time today to reflect on how you consider the bible and to actually read it for all it’s worth. Is it a Toy, a Trouble, a Tyrant, a Tool, or a Treasure? As you think about this, ask God to give you eyes to see him, a mind that understands, and a heart filled with the desire to follow him. There’s real “treasure” to be found!