II Timothy 3:1-17

There is an old saying, “talk is cheap!” We all know that is can be true. If we just talk and do nothing else, our words have very little value. I suppose we could say, “words are cheap!” We are seeing in our day a great preponderance of words being written. It is impossible to keep up with everything being written today. Indeed, some things that are written are not worth bothering with.

Of all these things that may be classified as cheap, one book stands forth as a book of great worth. This is the Bible, the holy inspired Word of God. This is a book that uplifts, gives strength, produces hope, brings purpose out of confusion, and so much more.

Because of the unique values of the Bible, we should give careful attention to it. There are several reasons for this.

• The value of the Bible is seen in its origin (II Timothy 3:16)
  • God is the author of His book, the Bible

This means God wanted to communicate His message of love to me, and He wrote a book expressing His love and purpose so I could understand it.

• His book is a book of absolute truth
  • This can’t be said of any other book

Robert Wilson, a great linguist who has mastered 27 languages to help him in his study of Scripture, says, “I have seen the day when I have been investigating a point of Scripture that dwelt with history that I just trembled, for fear of what it might show. But I have gotten over that. I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to assail the truths of Scripture. Whenever there is enough documentary evidence to make an investigation, the statement of the Bible, in the original language always stands the test.”

Of course this is true. God is truth, and He will not allow anything untrue to be recorded in His book.

There is a threefold benefit to the Scripture for our well-being.

• The value of Scripture is seen in the benefits we receive from it
  • Teaching

A lady went into a cake shop in Japan one day and discovered to her surprise that the walls of the little shop had been papered with pages from the Bible. Asking the elderly shopkeeper about this, she explained that one day she saw these sheets of paper that had been cast away and though they would suit her purpose to paper her shop. The intersting thing was that her son came in and began reading the wallpaper. The old woman was so interested that she asked everyone who could read the papers to tell her what they said. As a result of being taught the Scriptures that served as her wallpaper, she became a devout Christian.

• Reproof
  • Oftentimes the Scriptures are used to reprove or convict us of wrongs that are in our lives
• Correct
  • We are not left at the place where we are only convicted of wrongs; the Scripture gives us the corrective actions so that our lives may become rich with blessing

The missionary was busy in his study when one of his Korean friends came in and said, “I have been memorizing Scripture, and I have come to recite it to you.” Whereupon, he quoted the entire Sermon on the Mount. Feeling that some advice should be given, the missionary said, “You have a marvelous memory! If you just memorize it, it will do you little good. You must practice what you have learned.” The Korean smiled and said, “That’s the way I learn it!”

• The value of Scripture is seen in the accomplishments it makes in the heart
  • It enables us to be adequate
    • Who among us feels adequate? Yet, the Scriptures applied to our lives and used of the Holy Spirit enables us to be adequate for every task. Thus Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ.”
  • Equips us for service
    • For every good work

Therefore, since the Bible is of such great value, every Christian should be a faithful student of it. One who is faithful in living by its instruction.

There are two things each of us should do as a result of the matters we have just discussed.

• Each of us should reaffirm our confession of the Bible as the Word of God wholly inspired for practical use in our daily living
• We should make the Bible our guidebook for all matters of Christian living, practicing its teachings in every matter as God gives us the ability to do so

If God’s people will do these two things, we can have a powerful impact upon this world which is seeking answers and needs them so badly.