From time to time, believers may become weary or cynical about the Word of God, because they notice that it has had no effect on their lives. We may read and study the Word again and again, but profiting from the Word and experiencing its change involves more than just the reading and studying of it – it’s obeying it that makes the difference.

And when we obey it, we will experience real change. JC Philpot said "Where God’s word effectually works in the heart, it has an influence over the life. It separates from the world and the spirit of it; keeps the consciences alive and tender in the fear of God; produces uprightness and integrity of conduct; extends its influence to the various relationships of life; subdues pride, covetousness, and selfishness; softens and meekens the spirit; gives tender feelings and gracious affections; fosters prayer, meditation, and spirituality of mind; and makes itself manifest in the life, walk, and conversation." We need the Word in our lives. It’s the only thing that can grow us and mature us and grant joy to us.

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God has breathed the Word out unto us and it’s profitable, or useful for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. God has given it to us to teach us how to live. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises." In other words, the Word is utterly sufficient and proficient for successful living. We have no need of any other instruction manual or philosophy as everything else finds its origin in man, while the Word is God-breathed. The Word of God has a four-fold purpose; it educates, convicts, corrects, and regulates.

The Word is profitable for doctrine. It educates us about God, His will, it tells us about ourselves and our greatest need, it educates us how to live our lives; it tells us what pleases God, it tells us about the future, and it tells us how to find joy in life. It’s not simply a fact book, but it’s a guide book as well, teaching us what we cannot otherwise know.

Leviticus 6:2-4 says, "If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep…or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein, then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found." For example, if the Char Kuey Teow Aunty returns us more change than is due us, and if we keep silent, we sin. We must return it.

The Word educates us by examples and by precepts. But how many of us are well educated in it? Here’s a scary story. "A minister was asked to teach a boys’ class in the absence of the regular teacher. He decided to see what they knew, so he asked who knocked down the walls of Jericho. All the boys denied having done it, and the minister was appalled by their ignorance. At the next session meeting he told about the experience. "Not one of them knows who knocked down the walls of Jericho," he lamented. The group was silent until finally one seasoned veteran spoke up, "Pastor, this appears to be bothering you a lot. But I’ve known all those boys since they were born and they’re good boys. If they said they didn’t know, I believe them. Let’s just take some money out of the repair and maintenance fund, fix the walls, and let it go at that."

The Word is also profitable for reproof. When we know what’s right, and we do wrongly, the Word convicts us that we have sinned and we feel guilty. We’ve all experienced this. We’re made aware that in order to be righteous before God, we need to mourn for our sins. This was the example of David in 2 Samuel 24:10, which says, "And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly." Another example of David’s was when Nathan confronted him months after his sin with Bathsheba. But once confronting him with the Word of God, David repented. Here are his words in Psalm 51 – "I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight."

After educating and convicting us, the Word helps to correct us. It sets us straight again. A person who realizes he has stolen must return the money. When we know that we’ve done wrong against God and the Char Kuey Teow Aunty, we need to repay. Correction here is repentance – not just sorrow, but correct action. This was the case with Zaccheus who said in Luke 19:8, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."

You see, the amazing thing about the Scriptures is that when we are obedient to it, we are led from the bondage of sin to the freedom of Christ. This is what Zaccheus and David both experienced. And those who let it work in them will experience the joy of salvation.

Lastly, the Word gives instruction in righteousness. This means that the Bible is to be used to regulate our lives. We submit ourselves unto it that we would daily be ruled by it. You see, it’s not enough to know what God requires; we must know how to avoid those sins and how to stay out of them in the future. This takes discipline. It takes exercise. This is what 1 Timothy 4:7 says, that we should "exercise thyself rather unto godliness." This requires a regulated and structured life – we need to identify the sins, take steps to avoid them, and take steps to replace them with godly behavior.

Now, we recognize that we have a lot of education. But what we lack in is conviction, correction, and regulation in our lives. It’s no wonder that we feel so unfulfilled – we’re not enjoying life, because the life that God gave to us can only be enjoyed when we follow his rules. True enjoyment comes through salvation and perfection.

If we were to use the Word profitably, there will be a glorious product. Firstly, it’s impossible to study the Word and be convicted by it, without being led to salvation. This was the case with Timothy, as Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:15, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

When Charles Spurgeon was pastor at New Park Street in London, God used his words to bring about amazing changes in the lives of people…One evening a prostitute, on her way to Blackfriars Bridge to commit suicide, stopped at the church, hoping to hear some word that would prepare her to meet her maker. Spurgeon was preaching from Luke 7:36-50, the story of the prostitute who wiped Jesus feet with her tears. His text was verse 44; "Seest thou this woman?" As Spurgeon preached, the woman saw herself but also saw the grace of God and trusted Christ. (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, W. Wiersbe, Moody Press, 1984.)

Now, if we know the Word but are not convicted of our sins, it’s possible that we may not be saved. This is because a believer should be convicted by the Word when he is confronted with it. And when he continues in this cycle of education, conviction, correction, regulation; he will be led to perfection as 2 Timothy 3:17 says, "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The word "perfect" means "complete" or "completely prepared." So if we respond to the Word of God, we’ll be completely equipped for every need in life. There’s nothing in life for which the Word can’t prepare you.

One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible’s divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous mutiny on the "Bounty." Following their rebellion, nine mutineers, along with the natives who accompanied them, found their way to Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific. Ten years later, drink and fighting had left only one man alive – John Adams. Eleven women and 23 children made up the rest of the Island’s population.

About this time, Adams came across a Bible in the bottom of an old chest. He began to read it, and the divine power of God’s Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer and changed his life forever. The peace and love that Adams found in the Bible entirely replaced the old life of quarreling, brawling, and liquor. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found.

When the mutineers were discovered, they were found to have an almost ideal community. There was no jail because there was no crime. They were godly people, every family among them transformed by the power of the Word of God. A visitor to that island in 1840 wrote: I then walked round and questioned several of the people on the texts, and some of the chief Scripture facts and doctrines, and most of them gave ready and suitable answers. The islanders have prayers twice on the Sabbath; after which sermons are read sermons. There is also a Sabbath-school, a Bible-class is held on Wednesday, and a day-school every morning and afternoon. He described it as "the world’s most pious and perfect community." (Signs of the Times, August, 1988.)

Such perfection will not come, neither true enjoyment in life, unless we place the Word high in our priority. If we don’t, is it any wonder why so many of us continue in our bitterness, impatience, immaturity, gossip, foolishness, and a whole hosts of other sins? It’s because we don’t continue in the things we have learned, as 2 Timothy 3:14 says, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of." Timothy acted upon what he had learned. As hard as it is, there is no other way to be perfected unless we practice the truth and believe in it, trusting that the Lord will help us and change us.

What specific trial or insufficiency are you experiencing now? Is it a lack of some virtue, like patience? What does the Word say? Let us apply. Let us have victory over impatience. This is good preparation for the next time a bigger annoyance comes. But unless we have this attitude, we will never be prepared for anything, much less life. If we do not learn our arithmetic in grade school, we shall never accomplish differential equations later on.

Our spiritual growth should be based on the same principles of physical growth. If we have been believers for any period of time, we should be perfected. A person of 20 years should have the stature and intellect of a 20 year old; this is normal. But it would be utterly repulsive if the body of a person of 20 years remains the body of an infant, never growing, never changing. Hence, if we don’t learn to profit and obey, we will end up being spiritual midgets, being many years in the university of life, but still being a novice.

What priority are we placing on the Word of God? The purposes of God’s Word of education, conviction, correction, and regulation; will produce no perfection, if we Christians keep it at the bottom of our prioritization. —MC

Children aged 3 to 10 will sing old time carols as they retell the Nativity story. Presentation on Noah’s Ark by FEK.