Imagine this hypothetical situation: You are asked to sift several tons of sand from one pile to another, by spooning it through a hand-held strainer. Without a doubt you would consider that kind of a task to be futile and boring. However, what if you were told that while doing this you were guaranteed to find a gold nugget every hour, and as you continued sifting through the pile you would begin finding them every minute. In addition, whatever treasure you found would be yours to keep. No longer would the task seem futile or boring. The pile of sand would take on a whole new meaning to you because of the value that was hidden within.
The same analogy can be made of Bible study. With very little effort, great riches are ours to discover and keep, as we carefully sift through the Word of God each day. With access to such great spiritual treasure, we can relate to the words the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:162.
Gold, Diamonds, and Emeralds
Exactly what kind of treasure can we expect to find in the Bible? I’ve heard Psalm 19:7–10 rephrased by someone this way: “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.”
That is my prayer for everyone who reads this book. May you become skilled at discovering God’s great treasure, and be excited by the spiritual riches that are yours to keep, as you learn to study the Bible.
Eight Benefits of Studying the Word
1. It assures us of salvation
1 John 5:13
2. It cleanses us from sin
John 15:3 / John 17:17
3. It gives peace
John 16:33
4. It brings joy
John 15:11
5. It guides our decisions
Psalm 119:105
6. It helps us in prayer
John 15:7
7. It strengthens
1 John 2:14
8. It leads to success
Joshua 1:8
Andy Deane, Learn to Study the Bible: Forty Different Step-by-Step Methods to Help You Discover, Apply, and Enjoy God’s Word (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2009), 11–12.