Early on in our marriage, my wife used to pack my lunch for work. I loved tuna sandwiches, and she knew it. Every day for over two years, she would faithfully prepare four tuna and cheese sandwiches, along with some snacks.
Eventually, tuna sandwiches started getting old, but I didn’t know how to break it to my sweet, dedicated wife. So, I left the house every day with her labor of love in hand, but I secretly went to the store and picked up something else for lunch. Then, while driving home from work, I tossed those sandwiches in the woods. This went on for several months until one day it was discovered that I had been daily spending money at convenience stores despite the fact that I was bringing home an empty lunchbox. The jig was up.
Thankfully, she responded with a sense of humor over it, but how many lunches do you think she has prepared for me since that episode?
I was relieved that she wasn’t angry with me, but I know she must have been at least a little hurt. She went out of her way to demonstrate her love for me and I took advantage of it.
How would you feel if you made a good nutritious meal for someone and they snubbed it for a cheap, junk food alternative? Suppose you prepared a delicious feast for a loved one, but they decided to go to mcdonalds instead.
Do you ever wonder what God thinks of us when we neglect the sincere milk and solid meat of the Word He’s given us, and in its place we feed ourselves with cheap alternatives? Guess what, we don’t have to wonder. Look what Jesus says in John 14:23-24 “Jesus replied: ‘If anyone loves me he will cherish my word; my Father will love him and we will come to him and make him our abode. He that does not love me neglects my words. Yet the word you hear is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.”
The Bible is a labor of love that God has provided for our daily strength and edification. It doesn’t take a lot of our time to open it up and draw wisdom and good spiritual nutrition each day.
Most of us have things that we make time for each day, like sports, our favorite shows, or even other books that we read. Those things are fine to enjoy, but not at the expense of neglecting time in God’s word.
Christian bookstores are packed with books on a wide variety of topics, but they too are no substitute for actually reading the Bible.
Jesus says again in John 8:31-32, Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Have you been neglecting time in the Word? Is daily Bible reading one of your priorities? Make sure you don’t spurn God’s incredible gift!
ACTS 20:32
“And now I entrust you to God and his care and to his wonderful words that are able to build your faith and give you all the inheritance of those who are set apart for himself.”