This week I'm so excited to have guest author Samuel James on The Remnant! Check out his blog, Writing, Life, Faith.
What’s the greatest book ever written? Ask ten people and you’ll probably get ten answers. Some love fiction, some love non-fiction, and within each category you’ll find countless genres.
What is Your Favourite Book?
You’ve probably read your fair share of books. Which ones have stood out to you, and why? Was there a fiction novel that kept you turning page after page right from the start? Was there a writing or self-help book that changed your outlook on life? Feel free to comment below.
Now before I tell you what I believe is the best book, we need to answer the following question:
What Makes a Book “Good”?
Clearly, there’s something that separates a mediocre piece of writing from a phenomenal one. There has to be a reason the books atop the New York Times Bestseller List are there. In my mind, a good book has to do something that no other book can do. Whether that’s redefining a genre or giving us a unique perspective on life, it needs to achieve something revolutionary.
I’ve stumbled across a handful of amazing books in my day. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings was a series that redefined how I viewed the world of fantasy. Before I read the books, I wasn’t really into the “fantasy” genre, but Tolkien’s writing changed everything. That said, I find that non-fiction can be even more powerful. When I first read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, I was blown away. It did something no book had done: deliver a compact, engaging guide on leadership and human relations.
The point is, to be great, a book needs more than your average storyline or topic. It needs to change the way you view the world. This is why there’s no doubt in my mind that the Bible is the greatest book ever written.
Why is the Bible the Best?
The Bible trumps every other book because it gives us more than any other book. It offers us stories, parables, history, poetry, songs, proverbs, warnings, advice, and so much more. On top of this, the Bible is the most relatable book of all time.
I hate to say it, but many find The Lord of the Rings challenging to read. And it was only written 70 years ago. Yet the Bible, written over 2000 years ago, remains just as easy to comprehend as ever. No other book (not even Harry Potter) has sold as many copies. No other book has been translated into as many languages. No other book exists that people are literally dying to get.
The Bible offers us a complete, comprehensive life guide. It’s there for us when things are great, when things suck, and everything in between. It applies to every area of our lives and is packed with wisdom.
Why Read the Bible?
Because it’s God’s word.
He inspired human authors to write this book so that we could benefit from it. God wrote the Bible so that when things get hard, we have something to turn to. He gave us a resource that both draws us closer to Him and teaches us how to navigate life.
I’ve heard people say that if they were offered a million dollars, or the opportunity to read a chapter of Proverbs every day, they’d choose Proverbs. That’s saying something. As someone who has read a chapter of Proverbs every day for over a year, I can attest to this. If you truly think about and meditate on what you’re reading, you’ll gain an incredible amount of knowledge.
But don’t just read Proverbs - read the entire Bible. I think our world too easily dismisses the Bible as “old” and “irrelevant” (neither of which are true), and misses the insight it offers. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself. I can’t begin to describe how it will change your life.
If you haven’t already, I would highly, highly encourage you to pick up the Bible as much as you can. Every day, if possible. If you can’t do that, it’s okay. Just try your best and start somewhere. As Joshua 1:8 says, “Study this Book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (NLT).
If we don’t read and meditate on Scripture regularly, how can we expect to stand firm against the arguments of our culture? When someone raises a tough question, where will you turn? I hope it’s the Bible. (And if you’re struggling with questions about the validity of the Bible, feel free to check out a post I recently released on my blog, called Objections to the Bible.)
If you already read the Bible regularly, there’s something you need to know. It comes straight out of apologist Sean McDowell’s book A Rebel’s Manifesto, and it struck me hard. McDowell said: “It isn’t about how much you get into Scripture, but how much Scripture gets into you.”
I’ll say it again: What matters isn’t how active you are in reading the Bible, but how much of the Bible is active in you.
The Bible is and always will be the greatest piece of literature ever written. It’s God’s book, after all. Don’t discard it as an ancient manuscript - pick it up for yourself. Read it, yes, but also study it, meditate on it, and do what it says.
It will change your life.
For His Glory,
Samuel James
If you liked this week's post, leave a comment below!
Don't forget to check out Samuel's blog, Writing, Life, Faith.
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