Last time (Chief End IV) we looked at some specific yet daily activities that human beings do and asked if we really did them out of love for God. The time before that (Chief End III) we looked at several religious activities in a general way and asked if we did them out of love for God. In this BLOG I would like to look one specific activity that we are supposed to do in the realm of Christianity. We will be dealing with the issue of Bible study.
Why do you study the Bible? We are told that we are to study the Bible because it teaches us how to live better lives. We are told to study the Bible because it is the manufacturer’s handbook. We are told to study to the Bible in order to be better Christians. We are told to study the Bible because that is what Christians do and we must do that because God wants us to. All of those things have an element of truth to them, but all of them can simply be another way that human beings serve self. We all want to live better lives and if we think that studying the Bible is one way to do that, we will do it. But where is love for God in this? Unbelievers can study the Bible and live better outward lives as a result of that too. But where is the chief end of God in creating us if we just study the Bible just to live better lives? Where is the Great Commandment in this if we just study the Bible to outwardly obey?
I think that if one reads what is being written here and obtains a grasp of the basic points, it will be clear that even the study of the Bible can be an act of idolatry. Anything we do that is not motivated by a love for God with the intent to glorify God is an act of idolatry. Human beings were put on earth with a purpose assigned by God. That purpose was for God to use human beings as instruments to display His glory. Whatever a human being does that is not to the glory of God falls short of that purpose and goal and as such is contrary to God and His purposes for human beings. When humanity uses the means that God has given us to live for His glory and turn them to ways to serve self, humanity is acting contrary to the purposes of God and it is a very deceptive way of doing it.
When you study the Bible do you study it in order to see who God is? Do you study it with the desire to see the One you love so that you may love and glorify Him more in this life and eternity? Bible study must be in line with humanities created purpose and that is to be the instrumental means by which God glorifies Himself. If we think that we can just go study the Bible and do what it commands and that glorifies God, then we are mistaken. We are approaching the Bible as if it all depends on us and as if we can understand it and obey it in our own power. That is a human centered approach. A more God-centered approach which would be in line with the purpose and end of God in creating is found in II Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
The text above really gives us several biblical concepts. Here we see what it means to be like Christ who is the outshining of the glory of God. Here we see the purpose of Bible study in that we are to behold the glory of the Lord. We are not to go study the Bible as an object of knowledge because that does not open our eyes to see His glory and all it does is puff us up with pride: “1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” I Co 8:1-3). Here we see that knowledge makes arrogant but it is love that edifies or builds up. What kind of love is that? It is the love for God and to be known or loved by Him. Notice what happens in verse 2 of the one that is arrogant with knowledge that has not led to love for God. That person does not really know as he ought to know but instead in reality knows nothing since he does not know God. The study of Scripture must be in order to see the glory of God so that we would be transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to another. When it is His glory shining in us it will be His glory shining through us and then we will be fulfilling His purpose in creating us. Bible study is not about getting information alone, it is about loving God and humbly being an instrument of His glory.
God Loves... Himself 
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