This Sunday is Bible Sunday – so we take a brief break from Joshua and conclude our week with two reflections on God’s word:
2 Timothy 3:10-17Hard as humanity has tried to stamp out the bible, it has always failed. The bible is by a huge margin the best-selling book of all time. There are an estimated 6 billion bibles in the world today, or 3 for every 4 people. It is translated into more than 2,000 languages, covering well over 90% of the world’s population. It never appears in best-selling book lists, because there would be no point – it would still be number one every year, by a massive margin. Over 150 million bibles are sold every year, not including all those that are distributed for free or downloaded on our phones.
The bible has a power all its own, a power from above. Today, let’s look briefly at what this power of the bible is. First, it makes us wise. It teaches us about what life is really about – nowadays we obsess over data. The amount of data on the internet doubles every two years. We can absorb unlimited facts about anything nowadays. We can go on Youtube and learn any skill.
But where to we learn to be truly human? Where do we learn how to be a better person, a better partner or parent or worker? Where do we learn how to say thank you and sorry; and how to be humble and gentle, but also resilient and brave? We catch some of it from good role models, which is why we also need healthy communities – but the textbook is: the bible. The bible makes us wise for salvation. The word salvation has its roots in the word ‘wholeness’ – which we usually describe today as ‘wellness’. Imagine that: long before we dreamed up the whole ‘wellness’ industry, 2,000 years ago Paul reminded his friend Timothy that bible was God’s original wellness guide.
Second, the bible gives us faith. But importantly, faith in the right person. You see, we all live by faith. When people tell me they have no faith, I’m too polite to say that of course they have faith, they just have faith in something else. It takes a huge amount of faith to be an atheist! However, it is in Jesus that we find love, joy, hope, purpose, and a peace that transcends our understanding. We find community and also ways to make a difference. And yes, you can find some of that in other places – but only Jesus offers us the whole package, because he’s the source of life itself. And the best way to know life is to ask the one who created it.
Finally, the bible empowers us to do good. Scripture teaches and trains, Paul says, so that ‘the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ Following Jesus ultimately has to be a practical thing. It’s not just about what we believe. We show what we believe by how we live. And it is this key to living well is what ultimately explains why people are still so desperate to get their hands on a bible.
The bible is not just words, it’s life-giving truth: the source of wisdom, the inspiration for faith, the handbook for life. Today, let’s give thanks that we have such easy access to the bible: may it continue to speak to us, empower us, and reveal the deepest thoughts of our hearts. And let’s pray for all those seeking to translate the bible into new languages, often at risk to themselves. May the Lord bless their remarkable work, that many others would find faith, wisdom and abundant life. Amen.