It is so easy to wander through life, not noticing the great blessings God has bestowed upon us. For example, If I flip the switch on and get light several times a day, every day, for 22 years, then I very rarely think to stop and thank God for light. When I go a month or longer without electricty, I begin to praise God every time I flip that switch and light enters the room.
I would like to compare that thought to how blessed I am to have a Bible and the ability to study it.
According to UNESCO, in the world today there are about 1 billion non-literate adults.
- This 1 billion is approximately 26 percent of the world's adult population.
Women make up two-thirds of all non-literates. - 98 percent of all non-literates live in developing countries.
- In the least developed countries, the overall illiteracy rate is 49 percent.
- 52 percent of all non-literates live in India and China.
- Africa as a continent has a literacy rate of less than 60 percent.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa since 1980, primary school enrollment has declined, going from 58 percent to 50 percent.
- In all developing countries, the percentage of children aged 6-11 not attending school is 15 percent. In the least developed countries, it is 45 percent.(UNESCO 1998)
Combine that with these facts:
- Of the 2,400 language groups with portions of the Bible, roughly 1,115 have the New Testament.
- Only 426 have a full Bible, including the Old Testament
- (If I am reading these stats right) that means, of 2,400 languages (that HAVE portions of the Bible, this does not include language groups that do not have portions of the Bible!), 53% do not have bibles translated into their language, only 46% have the New Testament, and only 17% have both old and new testament translated into their language (that means 83% of the world’s languages that have a portion of the Bible do not have the entire Bible translation).
The fact is…if I was born in any third-world country, the chances are that I would be highly unlikely to pick up a Bible and start reading it. Even worse, if I was born into one of those people groups without a Bible…I couldn’t even have someone in my community that does read, read it to me.
But the possibility of not having access to read God’s word is not secluded to third world countries. I interact with people every day…right here in America…who cannot read. I have met a few who cannot even write their own name. They aren’t stupid and they don’t have learning disabilities…they were just born into violent, abusive, and neglectful families that never sent them to school.
But I walk by 4 bibles and many shelves of books filled with books explaining passages of scripture every single day. I live in a country with over a hundred evangelical bible colleges, universities, and seminaries. There are hundreds of sound theologians that are publishing books faster then I will ever be able to read that exegete and expound on scripture. I could sign up to study Greek and Hebrew and study God’s word for myself in the original language.
Failure to study God’s word is more then a lack of discipline in my life, it is foolish and sinful. It should be as repulsive as a nation starving to death while there is enough food for a daily thanksgiving day feast sitting in storage.
To go throughout my life without studying God’s word on a consistent and continual basis, is like going through life with a million dollars in my bank account, yet sleeping in Central Park in the middle of the winter. It would be stupid, and yet…when I stood before God, I feel like that would make more sense then trying to account for why I was not immersed in this great gift that God has given me while so much of the world has lived without it.
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4 comments:
Dennae,
Those are some pretty crazy statistics! It is hard to imagine that after so long, only 47% of the world’s language groups have even a portion of the Bible to read from.
Your post reminded me of this cheesy movie I saw the Apocalypse called “Six”. In the film, there was a jail that consisted of Christians who had refused to receive the mark of the beast. What challenged me was their strong commitment to studying and memorizing scripture.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
(Psalms 119:11 ESV)
The prisoners were not allowed to have Bibles, but it seemed that every once and awhile they managed to sneak one in. As soon as they did so, they memorized as much as they could and wrote it on the walls of the cells (apparently they were allowed to do that). They then used what they remembered and the graffitied walls to hold Bible studies together as a community of persecuted believers. When scripture was no longer available for them to read from, although certainly not preferable, they were fine. They had wisely cherished the time a Bible was at hand and soaked up its Water like a sponge. God's Word did not exit their minds as soon as the study was over; they had stored up His Word in their hearts.
I have made the mistake before of not simply being around the Bible and disregarding it, but reading God’s Word and not stockpiling it within me. I think you are right when you say this:
To go throughout my life without studying God’s word on a consistent and continual basis, is like going through life with a million dollars in my bank account, yet sleeping in Central Park in the middle of the winter.
Why only consistently spend time in the Word and not continually as well? Even with scripture memorization I believe we can get caught up in making sure we spend time reading the Bible and neglect the fact that retaining the information and applying it to life is what is vital.
The curious thing is, not only did these prisoners consistently and continually spend time reflecting on God’s Word, but they did it as prisoners! I know it is a movie, but those kinds of things do happen in the world today.
My God, how lazy I am sometimes! As we all sit back and contemplate this issue, please continue to convict us of our shortcomings and stir us to righteousness.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
(Joshua 1:8 ESV)
Dennae,
Those are some pretty crazy statistics! It is hard to imagine that after so long, only 47% of the world’s language groups have even a portion of the Bible to read from.
Your post reminded me of this cheesy movie I saw the Apocalypse called “Six”. In the film, there was a jail that consisted of Christians who had refused to receive the mark of the beast. What challenged me was their strong commitment to studying and memorizing scripture.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
(Psalms 119:11 ESV)
The prisoners were not allowed to have Bibles, but it seemed that every once and awhile they managed to sneak one in. As soon as they did so, they memorized as much as they could and wrote it on the walls of the cells (apparently they were allowed to do that). They then used what they remembered and the graffitied walls to hold Bible studies together as a community of persecuted believers. When scripture was no longer available for them to read from, although certainly not preferable, they were fine. They had wisely cherished the time a Bible was at hand and soaked up its Water like a sponge. God's Word did not exit their minds as soon as the study was over; they had stored up His Word in their hearts.
I have made the mistake before of not simply being around the Bible and disregarding it, but reading God’s Word and not stockpiling it within me. I think you are right when you say this:
To go throughout my life without studying God’s word on a consistent and continual basis, is like going through life with a million dollars in my bank account, yet sleeping in Central Park in the middle of the winter.
Why only consistently spend time in the Word and not continually as well? Even with scripture memorization I believe we can get caught up in making sure we spend time reading the Bible and neglect the fact that retaining the information and applying it to life is what is vital.
The curious thing is, not only did these prisoners consistently and continually spend time reflecting on God’s Word, but they did it as prisoners! I know it is a movie, but those kinds of things do happen in the world today.
My God, how lazy I am sometimes! As we all sit back and contemplate this issue, please continue to convict us of our shortcomings and stir us to righteousness.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
(Joshua 1:8 ESV)
Wow... that is really challenging. I definitely do not think about that blessing enough. Those are amazing statistics. We take such advantage of what we have!
These stats kind of put in perspective how discusting it must be when we chose to watch a whole night of TV and leave His Word on the shelf. It really is amazing how blessed we are. The scripture that says: "familiarity breeds contempt" really applies here. Do we have contempt for God's Word when we neglect it in favor of meaningless entertainment? I think so.
I was really touched by the hunger and love for the Word I encountered in India. Most of the people we visited with and taught, just obtained access to the New Testament in their language in 2004. They were craving any teaching and discussion of the Word.
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