How to Read the Scriptures,
E. G. Sewell
Christians should read the Scriptures daily. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom,” etc. Col. iii: 16.” “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day.” Jno. xii: 48. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the book were opened, and the dead were judged, out of those things which were written in the books according to their works.” Rev. xx.
When we contemplate the last and final judgment of man, we always- find it is to be by the word of God. No man will be judged by what he has thought merely, or by what he has felt, but “according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5: 10. Then since we are bound to be judged by the word of God, we certainly ought to be very careful to live by it, as the Disciples of Jesus Christ. In order to live by it, we must know what it says, what it requires at our hands. To know what it says, we must read it regularly, carefully, and often. Those who have not confidence in the Bible, may say what they please, about its insufficiency; but as certain as the Bible is true, just that certain it is, that the man who does what is required of him in the word of God will be saved. True, man cannot save himself, but when he does what the word of the Lord requires of him, he then has the divine promise that God will do whatever else is necessary to be done for him, in order to his salvation. This much is true, in relation to any one.
But we are writing now, with reference to the Christian, and we desire to make a few suggestions that may be profitable in this work. Reading merely to while away the time, or to have it to say that we have read so much in a given time, amounts to almost nothing. Another very serious difficulty in reading the Scriptures is, that we often read without having the mind fixed on what we read. I have many a time read whole chapters and not got a single practical idea, because my attention was not fixed upon what I was reading. This is always time thrown away; even worse than wasted, because in so doing we cultivate a bad habit. When we begin reading, with our minds wandering, and find that we are thinking more about something else than what we are reading, we had better stop, and go to work to concentrate our minds upon what we are reading, so that we may read to profit. To be able to fix our attention at all times in reading, we should always have some object in view. Have some particular subject before our minds, and read to see what the Bible teaches us on that subject. Suppose for in¬stance, we ourselves have some beset¬ting sin, which every man does have; some particular point on which we are more easily led astray than any other. Then we ought to strengthen ourselves on that particular thing. A wise general always strengthens his weak points. Christians should do the same.
Suppose we find on self-examination, that we are very strongly inclined to set our hearts on the things of this world, that we are very anxious to pile up its treasures around us, that we may gratify our fleshly desires: “That ye may consume it upon your lusts.”James. iv: 3. Then let us go to work at once, to find out what the word of the Lord says about it. Our blessed Savior said many things on this subject. “And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, take heed, beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a par¬able unto them, saying: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, be¬cause I have no room where to bestow my fruits. And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater: and there will I be-stow all my fruit and goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him. Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.” Luke xii: 13-21. In this passage, the Savior was presenting those great and general principles by which men and women in his Kingdom should he governed. Surely no worldly minded Christian can read this parable of our Savior, and not be deeply impressed with the weakness and uncertainty of things earthly; of the vanity of storing up the treasures of this world, and set¬ting our hearts upon them for fleshly enjoyments. But some one may conclude that this was only applicable at the time the Savior was on earth, to the Apostles. Such persons should remember that the Apostles were commanded to teach them, (the disciples,) to observe all the things he had commanded them, (the Apostles.) The Apostles, faithful to this charge, have very carefully taught the things and principles commanded, in this parable. Paul to the Colossians, iii: 1, 2, teaches precisely the same things, when he says: “ Seek those things which are above,” and again, “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” No one can say these things are not addressed to Christens, and they certainly embrace the very same. James says: “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” All these things show clearly that the children of God must not get their hearts on the things of this world. This course can be carried to almost any extent, for the Bible is full of information on this subject. These passages which we have presented, are sufficient on this subject, to show how we may read so as to be benefited. We may write more on this subject. (GA vol 12, #4, 1/27/70 page 74)
Suppose again, we find by examining ourselves, that we are easily excited or irritated in temper; that we are easily fretted, and put into a peevish, unhappy mood. That we often have unkind thoughts and feelings towards others. That we are always inclined to blame others for their mistakes and improprieties, when perhaps pity, and not censure, should be exercised. For indeed these traits and feelings are no very uncommon things in life. “We are all more or less afflicted with them. We have seen persons nearly always in a fret and bustle about something or other. Somebody had not done right; and if they happened to make a mistake themselves, someone else was sure to be blamed for it. You almost daily bear these persons complaining about the weather. It is too wet or too dry; too warm or too cold. In times of much rain, you. will hear them say, “We’ll suffer for this after while, in dry weather,” and in dry weather, “We’ll have too much rain when it does begin,” etc. Such persons not only fret about the present, but about future troubles that they know nothing of, and perhaps never will. We know that these traits not only make their possessors unhappy, but that they also make others unhappy around them. Such per¬sons, many of them at least, never seem to think that there is anything wrong in the indulgence of such things. Let us therefore turn to the Word of the Lord, and sec what it says on the subject. “ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Col. iii: 8.
Here we are commanded to put off anger, wrath, malice, etc. Now what do these words mean: By the word anger, we usually mean that the person to whom it is attributed, is mad; that he is in a passion about some¬thing or other, be it much or little. Most words have a primary meaning, and one or more secondary meanings. The primary meaning of this word anger, is violent excitement of passion, usually accompanied with the desire or effort to take revenge. While the secondary meaning will embrace fretfulness and peevishness in general. Now whether we are guilty of the one or the other of these, we are positively commanded to put if off, in the above passage. The same apostle, Paul, is still more comprehensive if possible, in Eph. iv: 31, viz: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” Peter in effect enjoins the same, in the first of the second chapter of his first letter, which we need not here quote; the reader can turn to it, and read it, and to many others of a similar character. Sup¬pose now that we memorize these and a few similar passages, and make a special effort to put the requirements into practice in our daily lives. This should be our leading object in reading the scriptures; to learn what they require at our hands. The man who reads the Bible merely to argue and oppose somebody else, will be injured rather than benefited. But let us read to learn how we are to live our¬selves, and when we learn this, we will know how to teach others also. Any one who reads such passages as we have quoted, knows that the exercise of an angry, peevish, fretful disposition, is contrary to the positive command of God. We had just about as well disregard one positive command of God as another, so far as we know. Why not just as well refuse to repent, or to be baptized, as to re¬fuse to put off anger, malice, etc? The apostle Paul says: Acts xvii,: 30, in speaking of God, “ But now commandeth all men everywhere to re¬pent.” This command is no more positive than the command to keep our passions down. Now since refusing one brings destruction, why not the other? These things then should make deep impressions upon us. We should, at all times, strive to bring ourselves into submission to the teaching of Christ and his apostles. We are told in the scriptures that Christ has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. When he was tempted, as you read in 4th of Matt., he relied entirely upon the word of God. When assailed by the tempter, he would reply, “It is written,” and in every instance the tempter was vanquished, and ceased his effort in that direction, so soon as he saw that the Son of God relied upon what was written to guide him in those matters. Now can’t we do the same thing? We can certainly follow his steps in these things. If Christ had vanquished Satan by some direct or miraculous power, then we could not have followed his example. But as it is, the way is open for us to profit by his example. Angels doubt¬less looked on with the deepest anxiety, during the trial of the Son of God. No sooner was it ended, than they came and ministered unto him. Truly this was a notable incident in the history of the Son of God.
Now, then, if we, as did he, will treasure up the word of God in our hearts, we will always be ready when temptation comes. Suppose for in¬stance we are inclined to become angry and cultivate, and indulge bitter feelings in our hearts. Then at once comes up in our mind the passage which says: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, etc., be put away from you.” Then if we have any fear of God before our eyes, we will at once make a powerful effort to do the thing required, to put off these passions and feelings forbidden by the Word of God. Thus, may we proceed step by step, learning and practicing the divine will, till we may bring our passions and propensities under the control of the word of the living God.
Christianity; Everything that is practical, may soon be learned in this way. And not only the things which we have pointed out, but there is another lesson of the profoundest importance, intimately connected with them, which we may learn at the same time. While the things mentioned above, and many others are to be put off, there are also many other things to be put on. The mind cannot re¬main idle. Hence, if we put away those things that are wrong, and do not fill up our hearts with something better, the same, or worse things will return and take possession again. Therefore, while reading in the third of Colossians to learn what to put off, let us read a little further, and learn what to put. on, 12, 13 and 14th verses. “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” And indeed the remainder of the chapter is of this same practical character, embracing things that are to be put on and done by Christians. What a beautiful contrast between the things to be put off, and those to be put on. How unpleasant the one; but how pure, and holy and lovely the other. How much happier a man may be by cultivating and practicing the things to be put on, than by cultivating and practicing the things to be put off. Add to this, Eph. iv: 32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted upon this same principle may we examine every subject connected with forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” These things, if studied and practiced, will make us better and happier every day of life. If there were nothing in all this beyond this life, it would be wisdom in men and women to do these things. It would ennoble and elevate them far above any human wisdom or standard. But when we contemplate the fact that eternal life, with all its glories, is promised to the Christians who do these things faithfully; surely all these motives and inducements are sufficient to lead us into the work, that we may obtain eternal joy.
Gospel Advocate vol 12, #5, 2/3/70 page 99
E. G. Sewell