A few years ago, I discovered the ‘Challies Christian Reading Challenge’. It inspired me to make reading whole books more of a priority, and to my amazement I discovered that, depending on the events of the year, I could comfortably read a minimum of twenty books, and sometimes quite a few more.
It is so easy in today’s social media culture to be content with knowing ‘soundbites’ on any and every subject. It is also easy for parents (especially mums) to flop at the end of the day, and claim in general that all we know about are nappies and how to scrape Wheatabix out of bowls! My encouragement is this: if all our opinions on current affairs reflect those of the BBC (or other mainstream media), if we fritter away our evenings (and we know we do) or if we cannot remember the last time we read a book from start to finish, then it is time to pick up a book! Here is why:
1. According to Luke, ‘Jesus increased in wisdom…’ (Luke 2:52).
If Jesus, who in his humanity lived a perfect life and fulfilled the law completely, needed to grow in wisdom then why do we assume we are ‘done’ with learning? Proverbs says, ‘The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.’ (Proverbs 18:15) There is a biblical mandate to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Certainly, some of this can be worked out in our daily lives as we make mistakes and learn from them, or speak to those whom God has placed in our lives. However, in reading, we can sit at the feet of many absent, yet excellent teachers. We learn from those who were at the top of their field, and all from the comfort of our own homes.
2. The Books We Read Make Us the People Who We Are.
A sensitive reading of good books builds up our understanding of the world and of life. Consider: A book about history helps us to reflect on God’s work through time and gives us a greater understanding of where current events are rooted. A book about science seeds in us both wonder and worship. A biography helps us reflect on the excellencies as well as the failures of those who have gone before us. A book about cooking or home-making helps us to care for our families more purposefully. A masterful novel can teach us about a historical period or human nature and gives us an insight into excellent vocabulary and an expert plot. A well-written book that you disagree with helps us to think out why we disagree with it and fine tunes our own position on that subject. Whatever subject takes your fancy, read a book about it, and read to the glory of God.
3. What Do We Want to be Known For?
Do we want to be known for the fact that we win all the trivia quizzes about film stars or pop music? Or do we want people to expect us to have something to offer to a conversation: perhaps a challenging viewpoint or a thought-provoking question? Do we want to sound like another arm of the liberal media, or have we learned to consider the unravelling of world events from a more informed point of view? We do not need to slip into the stereotype of parents whose brains has gone to rust under sleepless nights and a thousand re-readings of ‘The Cat in the Hat’.
Once we have started to put a bit of effort in, it is easy to begin to make reading a way of life. The more we read, the humbler we become as the desire to learn takes root and the acknowledgement that we know so little increases. The Bible is the chief of books. Hopefully, reading God’s Word is already a priority in your life. Why not read a short commentary alongside it? (There you go – one book!). Great novels can be read supervising children in the garden. I regularly buy second-hand biographies or books for my children to read… but more often than not I find myself reading them as well as I make dinner. The language and structure aren’t a challenge but the content helps to plug the tremendous gaps in my own learning. Evenings are reserved for books that I can’t manage with hundreds of little interruptions.
Please hear me, I am not writing this to place a burden on an already exhausted parent. Not many years ago, I rarely read any book from start to finish. It is only by God’s grace in stirring up a desire to learn (brought about through home educating my own children) that the Lord has opened up the world to books to me. Parents, why don’t you give it a try…pick up a book!
