A young salesman approached a farmer and began to talk excitedly about the book he was selling, an almanac. "This book will tell you everything you need to know about farming," he said enthusiastically. "It tells you when to sow and when to reap your crops. It tells you all you need to know about farming." The farmer listened patiently, then said, "Young man, I know everything that's in that book. My problem is doing everything that's in that book!"
Well, doesn't that describe a lot of us when it comes to the Bible, except that part about knowing everything about it. I doubt any of us know everything there is to know about the good Book, but I don't doubt that all of us know something about it. Our problem usually isn't only knowing; it's doing. Our problem is that we don't do as well as we know.
Why is that? Well, I don't have all the answers to that question either. But I wonder if at the root of the whole thing is the fact that the Bible requires us to change, and change comes hard for most of us. I wonder if some of us don't study because we fear we may learn about some changes that need to be made in our lifestyle, and we really don't want to make those changes. Some of us likely reason that "ignorance is bliss" in this regard. Repentance (changing one's life) continues to be the most difficult command to obey, and yet it's necessary to continued fellowship with God.
Here's the way James put it...
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - (Jas. 1:22).
Now how do we measure up in the doing of that statement?
Lonnie Ritchie