For Christians its important to read. To read the Bible. To read books on the Bible. To read books that would help with Christian living. To read books to know more about God. Many Christians get this. Many Christians might feel guilty. Sometimes one’s life is also very busy. How does one read more books when life is busy? This post is meant to be pastoral, practical and encouraging. I admit I haven’t arrived so if you have other ideas and advice please share. So here’s my thoughts.
- First thing first: Pray to God about it. Seek Him for help. Don’t feel like reading but you know you should? Pray to God to move your hearts that you want to read His Word, that you want to study things related to His Word. Don’t forget to ask with faith. If James 1:5 tells us to pray asking for wisdom, I think a corollary to that would be pray for God to give you the heart to seek wisdom from His Word and books based upon His Words to get wisdom!
- Second, just pick something to read. If you haven’t read a spiritual book or the Bible in a while, just pick something to read! Picking isn’t everything, but don’t down play the fact that it is something, for its something of a start. But don’t spend too long thinking about what to pick either if you haven’t read something in a while. Some people can spend too long wondering what they should read; just pick something to start, that doesn’t mean your first few books are the only ones you will ever read for life! Pick something you like, pick something you have recently brought, pick something that perks your spiritual interests and read. Finish it so you can move on to read other things you have in mind. Again don’t think too hard about what you will read lest you end up never reading anything.
- Third, it’s okay to read a little bit over the long haul. Be the turtle in the race, not the rabbit who burns out. Don’t set false expectation upon yourself if you haven’t read in a while. You say you’re busy and don’t have two hours to read. Fine, read for 5-10 minutes when you can as a start. You would be surprised to see how reading a little bit every day for a few months you will be slaying through books. That big book of systematic theology you always wanted to complete? You’re not there yet but for once you’re half way through it and you didn’t think you ever get to that point.
- Fourth, always have something to read with you. I go everywhere with my Kindle. It’s what I use to take notes. Its what I use as an organizer. Its intentional. Why? Because there’s time where I have down time. Time that’s best spent not just only on facebook…it’s time to read something edifying! I meet with people as part of my role in the ministry. People are always late. Redeem that time. Read while you wait. You be much more sanctified rather than annoyed. You be surprised at how much time is wasted with just waiting. Waiting in a restaurant. Waiting in line at the store. Waiting inside the car pumping gas. In a year you’ll finish many books from those times you are waiting.
- Fifth, have multiple plans to try to read. Read like you are going to war. Spiritual war that is. This is very important for those who are busy or whose life is unpredictable. I mean unpredictable in the sense that there are things in your life that are contingent upon factors beyond your control (I’m not thinking about life being unpredictable because of lack of self-discipline). If your plan is just one, then already you have none. If your plan has a backup or two, then hopefully one of them will do. Again, I try to redeem the time when I wait by bringing along my Kindle. To ensure this happens I even have a charger in my car for my kindle just in case my power runs out over a long stretch of the day. Sometimes I meet with someone then someone afterwards wants to meet in an hour. I’m ready. I’m waiting and reading. Just in case Murphy Law kicks in and my battery dies and charger don’t work or I don’t want to look at a screen anymore, there is always a physical book in my car as back up.
- Sixth, read when others are asleep. If you are really busy, you also don’t want to neglect your family. So read when they are asleep. Do you know yourself to know if you are an owl or a early bird? That is, are you wired to stay up or wake up early? If you’re an owl, stay up a little later after your loved ones are asleep to enjoy your devotional time. If you are a morning person, be up before others to enjoy time with God’s Word. Of course if you’re an owl and an early bird then praise the Lord! But what if you are neither a morning person or a late night guy? Read during work breaks. Work breaks not long enough? Again, read a little bit that you can. It goes a long way over time.
- Seventh, read with variety. Here I want to be cautious. Some people never finish anything they read because they go on to something else. That’s not something we want to cultivate. At the same time, learning by reading is like exercising the muscles. We all know the proverbial gym rat who skip leg days. So whatever you are inclined to read, make sure that’s not your only staple. Make sure to have variety so you would continue reading and continue reading when you’re busy. If you’re a one sided reader, and life gets busy, well you have less reasons to keep on reading. Say you only read apologetics books. Well what happens when life gets busy? You think you know it all already for the areas of apologetics so you stop reading altogether because you don’t see the need for reading for other areas of theology or life. Or if you read doctrinal and theological works only for head knowledge, then soon it is not practical given the daily grind of a busy life–you drop your readings. So read practical books. Read books on Christian at the work place, or Christian sanctification. Don’t forget practical doesn’t mean shallow in content. I like to dip into biblical counseling booklets and books at times because its is very practical–and beautiful in showing how the Gospel and theology matters!
- Lastly, read to enjoy the Lord. Every advice above would be nothing if one doesn’t read to enjoy the Lord. If you read without love for God and growing love for others, why even if you read the entire Library of Congress it means you are nothing and gain nothing. If you read to enjoy the Lord you’ll find its less about method (though it has its place) but where your heart is at, the will shall find a way to read.
Thanks, Jim. Good advice. I’ve known people to say, When it comes to God we should just read the Bible and not follow the wisdom of men. Obviously, we need to be selective when it comes to the authors we choose, but I’ve found that using Bible study aids and reading books on theology by doctrinally solid authors have been big helps in my appreciation and understanding of the Word.
Amen Tom! I think there’s a place for non-canonical books but those should be tools and not masters. Only the Scripture is the final authority, all other works are derivative of it so long as it’s faithful to the Scripture and are actual and proper implications! I am thinking about doing a post sometime next week on whether or not there’s a Biblical support for the role of reading some (not all) canonical books.
Right, Jim. Chasing after worldly wisdom (regarding spiritual matters) is a waste of time and dangerous but reading Gospel-focused, Christ-honoring material from solid teachers can be a great assist in the study of Scripture.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you Vincent for the reblog, I hope those 8 tips would be useful to encourage people to read even when they get busy with life!
I couldn’t agree more!
This is a fantastic list. I’ve spent the year trying to read a book a week. These tips coincide with what I’ve found to be helpful. Thanks for the great post!
You’re welcome! If you have more to add to this list, share with us brother! I also have the same goal of trying to read a book a read!
Very good advice. I’ve been reading like this for years. I would add one more suggestion: occasionally read something with which you know you will disagree. It doesn’t hurt to know what other people think and how they express themselves. And it disarms your opponents when you quote their favorite writers to them and then tell them why those writers are wrong. J.
Totally agree J! I think I saw someone on another blog mentioned you teach history?
Yes I do. I teach a pair of survey courses that cover world history. I also recently lectured to a group of retired people about the history of the Reformation era. J.
Excellent, Pastor Jim! Lately I’ve been trying to be more organized about my reading. This is helpful in providing ideas to persevere in something so important.
By the way I received my copy of James White’s book on the KJV Controversy and am benefiting from it. Thanks for praying! And thanks to you, Tom, too for your review!
You’re welcome Maria! May the Lord bless your day today! And also your reading!
[…] How to Read More Books When Life Gets Busy […]
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Good list; I can especially relate to #3 as well as #7. And to add to #5: I have a free “cell-phone stand” (courtesy of a workplace benefits fair, from Vanguard.com) that works great as a Kindle stand, for an easy way to get some reading time, on Kindle books, while doing the kitchen work (clean-up, preparing the next day’s lunches) every evening. The time, little by little, quickly adds up!
Nice! Like you said, little by little, books quickly add up!
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