Do Not Neglect God's Word

Is the Bible the word of God? Then mind that you do not neglect it.

Read it! Read it! Begin to read it this very day. What greater insult to God can a man be guilty of than to refuse to read the letter God sends him from heaven? Oh, be sure, if you will not read your Bible, you are in fearful danger of losing your soul! You are in danger, because God will reckon with you for your neglect of the Bible in the day of judgment. You will have to give an account of your use of time, strength, and money; and you will also have to give account of your use of the Word.

You will not stand at that bar on the same level, in point of responsibility, with the dweller in central Africa who never heard of the Bible. Oh, no! To whom much is given, of them much will be required. Of all men's buried talents, none will weigh them down so heavily as a neglected Bible. As you deal with the Bible, so God will deal with your soul. Will you not repent and turn over a new leaf in life and read your Bible?

You are in danger because there is no degree of error in religion into which you may not fall. You are at the mercy of the first clever Jesuit, Mormonite, Socinian, Turk, or Jew who may happen to meet you. A land of unwalled villages is not more defenseless against an enemy than a man who neglects his Bible. You may go on tumbling from one step of delusion to another, until at length you are landed in the pit of hell. I say once more: Will you not repent and read your Bible?

Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle