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Profitable Bible Study (Part 1)

by Bryan Gibson

September 24, 2009

The Bible is a very profitable book—“profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). But it won't profit you very much if you don't approach it with the right attitude, and if you don't study it like you should—“the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith” (Hebrews 4:2). Here are some things that can make Bible study profitable for you.

Study the Bible with a single aim—to find the truth and obey it. Don’t look for what pleases you; look for what pleases God (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Desire the truth, even if it hurts to hear it. Heed the following admonition: “Buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). In other words, don’t take anything in exchange for the truth, no matter how attractive it may seem. Please don’t be counted among the many who “did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Use the Bible as a mirror—let it show you what you need to correct or improve (James 1:21-25). Brace yourself, though, because the image it reveals may not be a pretty one. You may have a lot of work to do, but you won't find a better “self improvement course” than Bible study.

Learn all you can about Jesus, which will enable you to walk in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21-23). It's awful hard to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) when you know so little about Him. Learn His attitudes—toward sin, toward people, toward the word of God, toward His heavenly Father, toward authority in general. Learn how He prayed, how He taught, how He rebuked, how He handled temptation, how He comforted people, and yes, even how He died.

Pay close attention to other examples, too—both good and bad (Philippians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:6-11). What both pleases and displeases the Lord will become increasingly clearer to you when you see it in action.

Read slowly and carefully every promise—to the faithful and to the unfaithful (2 Peter 1:2-4). When you see the rewards for serving the Lord and the punishment for not doing so, you will have all the incentive you need to faithfully serve the Lord.

Look for principles in the Bible that will help you deal with various situations in life—peer pressure, the challenge of rearing children, sickness, discouragement, marriage problems, difficulties with other relationships, etc. God has answers, if you’ll just look.

Your goal is to become a complete, mature Christian (Colossians 1:28), so use the Bible to that end. The Bible was not written merely to inform; it was written to transform. Let it do its work in you (1 Thessalonians 2:13), so that you’ll be ready when you stand before the Lord in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).