What’s More Important?

I make assumptions some time. I shouldn’t, but we all do it. One of the assumptions I make is that everyone knows what I know biblically. I don’t want that statement to come across as prideful or arrogant because the Lord knows there are many of God’s people who know far more than I do biblically. But the majority do not. Why? I’ve spent countless hours weekly in the past 50 years studying the Bible. I have had the privilege of sitting under many learned men during my Bible college time and beyond. In the blog today my goal is to give you a truth I learned early in my Christian life. What’s more important, reading your Bible or praying? That was a question I heard on a Christian radio station as I drove into the office early one morning a few years ago and my thought was simply you need both, everybody knows that. But do they know it? If you were posed that question, what would your answer have been? This question was asked directly to the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. The pastor was the “prince of preachers”, Charles H. Spurgeon. He preached in the last quarter of the 1800’s. The answer he gave was brilliant and one that I have tried to remember when I’m asked something similar. Spurgeon responded with a question of his own. “What is more important, breathing in or breathing out?” I don’t have the details of their conversation, but I know this, both are vital.

When I became a Christian, I was taught that reading the Bible is God speaking to me and when I pray that is me speaking to God. The relationship began at salvation, but it deepened as I spent time listening to the Lord speak (reading my Bible) and me personally learning to pray. I choose, when possible, to begin my day reading my Bible and then after a little while begin my prayer time. Why do I use this order? Reading the Bible means I am listening before talking. The Lord gave use two ears and one mouth. It only seems logical that we ought to listen more than we talk. That’s hard for most of us. Reading seems to knock away the cobwebs and mental clutter as I make myself spend time reading and focusing. Most of us wake each morning with a to-do list a mile long. More is accomplished and crossed off the list if we will devote a little time to the Lord early. Martin Luther would tell people that he “had so much to do that he had to spend at least three hours in scripture to get it all done.” The scriptures warm our hearts and teach us principles of the Christian walk. Things such as how to pray, how to be content, how to treat our family, how to forgive, why attend church, why we ought to give generously, how to be a good employee, how to intercede for brothers and sisters that are hurting, how to have discernment, and a thousand other things. When we are learning these things daily we can talk to the Lord while in prayer, asking Him to help us with even more understanding. We are aware the Lord listens to our requests when we are in tune (in fellowship) with Him. We can praise Him for His greatness because we have learned so much about Him, which we didn’t know before we read. In prayer, we yield ourselves to the Lord asking Him for power to be the right kind of Christian. Remember, both breathing in and breathing out are equally important. Learn to read the Bible and pray daily. They both are oxygen for the soul.