That Thang That You Do

Why?

That is the #1 question in our house.
Truthfully, it's always been my number one. I want to know why.
It has helped me to understand my youngest. When I/he ask why we should do something we are told, it's not out of a challenge of authority. We just want to understand the principle behind the matter so that the best course of action can be accomplished both now, and in the future without having to be told again. (Well, I doubt the 7 year old has thought it out that far yet, but I have.)

So when I ask, "Why study/read the Bible?" I need more than the "Because you're suppose to" answer. Is it the best course of action? If so, which is the best method? When are the best times? And so on and so forth... Why? is the smallest question one can ask, which essentially asks it all.

There is actually one other question you need to answer - completely honestly - first: "What is your main objective in life?"

What were the first two or three things that popped in your head? Most likely, though we hate to admit it, one of them is your main goal. The honesty comes in realizing that. So now we can ask, "Why should I read/study the Bible?"

Were your main objectives raising your children, to provide a good home for your family, to make something of yourself, or to learn all you can? Well, then the Bible can help- but not like you think it will. The principles in the Bible are great because they were written by the Creator of everything. He knows how things work best. If that is the only, or main, reason for you to read the Bible, you might as well place it on the shelf with every other self help for dummies book. The Bible was not intended to just help with your goals.

As a Christ follower, our main, #1 purpose in life should be to glorify God. This perfect umbrella covers the spreading of the Gospel, worship, serving Him, learning His Word, listening to the Spirit, humbling ourselves, and any other Christian principle you could think of as a Sunday School answer. And yes, it even applies to raising our children, providing for our family, and making something of ourselves. The only difference is that it comes from the viewpoint of God's eternal kingdom instead of a few decades on this current earth. When I think of it that way, am I so selfish as to only want to provide good for those I know and love for a few years? Or am I concerned with their eternal state?

So, I ask again...."Why?"

 ²⁰ From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. ²¹ For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
    ²⁴ Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1:20-25