A Peek at Your Bookshelf

I am sure that I could go into any girl’s room and find books lying around because reading is a wide-spread enjoyment. Would you be surprised, though, if I tell you that I can combine all of your books and come up with only two types of books?

Let us take a peek at your bookshelf and see if you cannot agree with me about the defined types of books we will find.

1. Harmful

These books go clearly against God’s Word. It is these types of books that contain sorcery, vile language, adultery, and other sinful things that Christians should never take part in. These can be equated with the books mentioned in Acts 19:19 that the new believers burned because of their evil content.

However, “harmful” books may not be so easily detected. A book might be harmful to us even if it contains nothing hideously wicked. I personally view harmful books as those that draw me away from God and away from my family. These books encourage me to be discontent by introducing ideas that are not healthy for me.

2. Constructive

These are the “good books:” the books that challenge our walk with God, that help us learn new truths, and that are uplifting. When finished reading a constructive book, we walk away feeling like we have leaped to a new height of understanding.

Constructive books will follow the pattern God has given for us: “. . . whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

But what about entertainment?

I realize that many girls will hold up a stack of books and protest that these are simply their “entertaining” books. Let us look through these books again. Everything we read enters our mind and affects us somehow: in a negative or positive way. When I read books solely for entertainment, I typically come away with something – and generally that “something” is generally on the harmful side. Once again, when looking at these “entertaining books,” we must compare it to Philippians 4:8: are the contents true, honest, just, pure, lovely, a good report, with virtue, and praiseworthy? If not, then the book must fall into the harmful category.

Before You Read

Now that we have briefly surveyed the books on your bookshelf, I will issue two challenges:

     1) Pray and cleanse your bookshelf from any harmful books!

     2) Compare everything you read to the Ultimate Book: the Word of God. If it in any way violates God’s commandments, then reconsider before you continue your adventure.

I have found two clear guidelines for reading material in God’s Word. It beneficial to do a quick test before and during my reading:

            ~Does this book adhere to the Ten Commandments?

            ~Does this book adhere to Philippians 4:8?

If the book falls short of those prerequisites, then it needs to be closed and read no more.

                                                                                                                                      

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end;

and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,

whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

(Ecclesiastes 12:12-14)

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