| Gleanings From My Readings |
GLEANINGS
My Least Favorite Book
of the Bible
by Dr. Glenn Mathews
For several years I have read the book of
James at least once each month and I don't
like the book! Oh yes, I believe it is inspired,
of the Bible
by Dr. Glenn Mathews
For several years I have read the book of
James at least once each month and I don't
like the book! Oh yes, I believe it is inspired,
just as much so as any other New Testament book. But, I
suppose it is my least favorite book in the Bible. It is the style in
which the book is written that is bothersome to me. James is
brutally frank. There are very few descriptive adjectives in his
writing. He writes as an extremist. For example, James 1:8 says,
“a double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. I would have
preferred him to be a bit more lenient. Could he not have said “in
many of his ways”? I would even have settled for “most of his
ways”, but “all”? In chapter 2 he said that “if you (we) have
respect of persons, we commit sin”. Who is there who does not
have “respect of persons”, especially when you view the verse in
the context. James is also very dogmatic. In chapter 4, when
discussing life, he asks a most personal question, namely, “what is
your life?” Had he asked “what is life”, we could have enjoyed a
long conversation on philosophy. But he asked, in essence, what
is MY life. Then, of all things, he answers the question. I don't
like the answer! I want to shout “my life is NOT a vapor! It is a
rich in relationships, knowledge, memory - and a thousand other
things that comprise “my life”. But when I pause, and recall that
James is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, his answer
supercedes my wishful one. This least favorite book naturally
contains my least favorite verse. Anyone who says that they
enjoy James 4:17 would probably lie about a lot of other stuff!
(Stop reading this and go read the passage).
For the past 14 days, I have read the book of James at least once
each day. I intend to reach it once each day for the entire month.
So, if I don't like James, why do I read it so often? Several
reasons come to mind… II Timothy 3:16 tells me that “ALL
SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION AND IS
PROFITABLE” for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction etc.
Additionally, I have learned that reading the same passage often
will bring NEW INSIGHTS TO MIND, even though I may be
very familiar with the passage. The Holy Spirit can and does
teach us by the reading of the Word. Since “faith cometh by
hearing”, I can assume that it also comes by “reading”, so MY
FAITH IS INCREASED. The verses that cause questions to
come to mind are good for me, for I research my library, other
people’s library, discuss with fellow believers and often get
insights into answering my questions. So, repeated reading
TEACHES ME. An extra benefit that I am getting is that I am
MEMORIZING the book without even trying! Simply put,
reading the same passage over and over is GOOD for me.
After 57 years of being a believer in Christ, I am still excited about
the Word of God, even (no, especially) the book of James. I
would encourage anyone to read and then read again and again
the same passage(s) over the course of weeks. It will prove
GOOD for you!
suppose it is my least favorite book in the Bible. It is the style in
which the book is written that is bothersome to me. James is
brutally frank. There are very few descriptive adjectives in his
writing. He writes as an extremist. For example, James 1:8 says,
“a double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. I would have
preferred him to be a bit more lenient. Could he not have said “in
many of his ways”? I would even have settled for “most of his
ways”, but “all”? In chapter 2 he said that “if you (we) have
respect of persons, we commit sin”. Who is there who does not
have “respect of persons”, especially when you view the verse in
the context. James is also very dogmatic. In chapter 4, when
discussing life, he asks a most personal question, namely, “what is
your life?” Had he asked “what is life”, we could have enjoyed a
long conversation on philosophy. But he asked, in essence, what
is MY life. Then, of all things, he answers the question. I don't
like the answer! I want to shout “my life is NOT a vapor! It is a
rich in relationships, knowledge, memory - and a thousand other
things that comprise “my life”. But when I pause, and recall that
James is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, his answer
supercedes my wishful one. This least favorite book naturally
contains my least favorite verse. Anyone who says that they
enjoy James 4:17 would probably lie about a lot of other stuff!
(Stop reading this and go read the passage).
For the past 14 days, I have read the book of James at least once
each day. I intend to reach it once each day for the entire month.
So, if I don't like James, why do I read it so often? Several
reasons come to mind… II Timothy 3:16 tells me that “ALL
SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION AND IS
PROFITABLE” for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction etc.
Additionally, I have learned that reading the same passage often
will bring NEW INSIGHTS TO MIND, even though I may be
very familiar with the passage. The Holy Spirit can and does
teach us by the reading of the Word. Since “faith cometh by
hearing”, I can assume that it also comes by “reading”, so MY
FAITH IS INCREASED. The verses that cause questions to
come to mind are good for me, for I research my library, other
people’s library, discuss with fellow believers and often get
insights into answering my questions. So, repeated reading
TEACHES ME. An extra benefit that I am getting is that I am
MEMORIZING the book without even trying! Simply put,
reading the same passage over and over is GOOD for me.
After 57 years of being a believer in Christ, I am still excited about
the Word of God, even (no, especially) the book of James. I
would encourage anyone to read and then read again and again
the same passage(s) over the course of weeks. It will prove
GOOD for you!
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