I don’t have a lot of regrets in life. I’ve certainly made mistakes I’ve had to apologize for, and I’ve learned some difficult lessons along the way. But I don’t tend to live my life looking backward. I generally look forward.
My dad taught me something that has stayed with me: Learn from your mistakes, and then keep moving forward.
But turning 50 has caused me to reflect more than usual. I’ve found myself asking: What would I tell my younger self if I could start over? What would I do differently?
One thing that keeps coming to mind is this: I wish I could have back the time I spent reading probably a third of the books I’ve read.
Don’t get me wrong. Many of those books were good and worthwhile. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from reading. But if I could go back, I would substitute some of those books with the Word of God.
I think about how many more times I could have read Romans. How much better I could have known Ezekiel. How familiar I could have become with the Minor Prophets. How much more Scripture I could have memorized, meditated on, and simply absorbed into my mind and heart.
I know the Word of God well, and I’m learning more every day. But I think I would know it even better if I had devoted more of my reading time to it.
And that’s one piece of advice I would give to younger Christians:
Use your time wisely. Know the Word of God.
Study the Word of God.
Saturate yourself in the Word of God.
What Motivated This Reflection
One of the things that prompted me to think about this happened two or three years ago. I was meeting with several megachurch pastors, and one of them made a statement that stuck with me:
“The smartest person in the room is the person who knows Scripture best.”
That got me thinking. By that standard, there are probably some rooms where I would be the person who knows Scripture best. But there are also quite a few rooms where someone else knows Scripture far better than I do.
And honestly, that bothers me.
But it has also motivated me. I want to be the guy who knows the Word of God best.
Not because I want power over people. Not because I want others to think I’m smart. And certainly not to feed my ego.
I want to know Scripture because the Bible truly is the Word of God.
The words of Scripture come from God, and they have the power to transform us from the inside out. As Hebrews 4:12 says:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
As I look back over my life, one of the things I would change is how I spent my time reading.
I would spend a lot more time studying the Word of God and less time reading things that, however interesting or helpful, simply don’t compare with the wisdom and power of Scripture.
If I could start over, I’d read fewer books.
And I’d read the Bible more.
מ Mem
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word.
I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!
I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
Psalm 119:97-104
Thank you brother I needed to read this. As I am working through my doctorate, I have to remind myself to put down that text from Ignatius or Gregory of Nyasia and pick up my Bible. That’s what they would do.