SA07 - Get More out of Your Bible Reading

Aaron was a humble man who had spent his whole life searching for the one true meaning of life. He had read every self-help book and listened to every guru, but understanding what it truly was always seemed just out-of-reach. Until one day, he stumbled upon an ancient book that promised to lead him to this long-fabled meaning. However, there was one problem - the book was written in a language he couldn't understand.

He was determined to decode this book, but it wasn't going to be easy. Frankly it was exhausting because the language concepts were unlike any he had ever heard before, and each passage took him many months of studying and research just to begin to understand it. That is until he started to develop the skill of ‘reading to understand’. He began to increase his understanding of this great book by changing his reading habits.

First, he prayed before he began reading. He asked to be put in the same framework of understanding as the writer of the book. In his prayer, he asked for help to understand what he was reading, then he asked for the spirit to help him to concentrate on what he was about to read, then he read at a slow pace.

Armed with his newfound knowledge, Aaron set out on his journey to find the meaning of life. The book led him through different stories which had not only basic teachings but also deeper truths and principles that lay hidden beneath the surface. Every page he turned, there seemed to be a new obstacle in his way. But he pressed on, driven by the promise of more understanding.

Second, to enhance his understanding, Aaron asked himself questions about what he was reading, especially as he considered a particular account. He would ask himself things like: ‘Who are the main characters? Who is speaking? To whom is he speaking, and why? Where and when is the action taking place?’ These questions helped Aaron to think about and follow the main ideas of what he was reading. It also inspired him to take brief notes as he read. As he wrote, he was forced to put his thoughts into words, which helped to clarify his thinking.

Finally, after weeks of reading, Aaron arrived at the pinnacle of understanding all that he had been contemplating. It was one little thought hidden away nestled deep in the heart of the Author. Like an onion, he peeled back the concept, his heart racing with anticipation, and then, like a flashing light, he saw it - the meaning of life.

Aaron was filled with a sense of wonder and awe as he slowly put the book down and stared into space to grasp how one idea related to another and how it differs from another, all to see what is not immediately obvious. He was now using discernment to identify the events that he read. He was starting to benefit fully from most of what he considered in the Bible. As he continued to dip his mind into the pages of the book, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins. He was reading deeply, and self-examining his motives as he allowed what he read to shape his thoughts, feelings, and actions. – 1 Timothy 4:12

This book had changed Aaron in so many ways. He had learned that everything he read was inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting matters straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that he being a man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

In the end, Aaron realized that the true treasure he had found wasn't one grandiose meaning of life, but the ability to let God’s Word mold him by maintaining the right attitude as he read. When we apply ourselves in these ways, we too will get more out of our Bible reading and draw ever closer to Jehovah. – Psalm 119:17, 18; James 4:8

Do you have a comment that did not get mentioned during the Watchtower study? What encouraging observations would you like to point out? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.