Of Making Many Books There is No End

Reading has, throughout my life, provided many enjoyable and profitable moments. I have especially loved history and biography. For example, I am currently reading “Benjamin Franklin” by Walter Isaacson. I chose this book because I have taken an interest in the Founding Fathers of our nation.

So far, I’ve read about George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. All of the books have been enlightening in that I better understand these men and their successes and failures.

Yes, reading provides knowledge and entertainment, but in the greater scheme of things how does knowledge of the Founding Fathers profit me as a reader? As I consider all the time and effort I have put into reading, what is the profit?

To be honest, my reading has been entertaining and enlightening on a human level, but when God evaluates my reading will it matter that I know a lot about the Founding Fathers or any other subject?

The Bible has some interesting things to say about books and the pursuit of knowledge. Let’s examine a few passages that help us to put the reading of books in the right perspective.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “. . . Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.”

Adam Clarke in his commentary makes the following note on the reading of books,
“Two thousand years have elapsed since this was written; and since that time some millions of treatises have been added, on all kinds of subjects, to those which have gone before. The press is still groaning under and teeming with books, books innumerable; and no one subject is yet exhausted, notwithstanding all that has been written on it. And we who live in these latter times are no nearer an end, in the investigation of NATURE and its properties; of GOD, his attributes, his providence, his justice, and his mercy; of MAN, his animal life, his mode of nutrition and existence, and his soul and its powers; of JESUS, and the redemption by him; of ETERNITY, and what it implies as exhibiting to us the pains of the cursed, and the glories of the blessed. Of several of these we know no more than they who have lived five thousand years before us; nor do we know anything certainly by the endless books that have been published, except what bears the seal of the God of heaven, as published in that word which was declared by His Spirit.
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.).”

In other words, loads of books have been produced on every imaginable subject, but what long term contribution has the publication and reading of books produced? Sadly, not much. As Solomon says at the end of verse 12, “much study is a weariness to the flesh.”

Ecclesiastes 1:18 provides additional insight to Ecclesiastes 12:12: “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Solomon makes clear from this verse that we can acquire a great deal of knowledge about this physical world. In fact, Paul addresses people who put great effort into reading and learning, but there is something woefully lacking in the end. 2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” or as Solomon said it “much study is a weariness to the flesh.”

Is reading and study wrong? As long as we are reading what is edifying, we are pursuing a positive path.

Available to us is God’s inspired word from which we can receive everything we need to be complete and fully equipped as members of Gods church (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible offers us something we can never gain from reading many of the books available to us.

Note what Solomon said as he comes to the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, “And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright — words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12).

In summary, reading can be instructive and most pleasurable, but we have to realize that most of what we read does not contribute to the path to eternal life. But as we dig into God’s word we can be instructed, “goaded”, or built up by “well-driven nails.” The Bible being the most profitable reading we will ever undertake.

Have an enjoyable Sabbath,

Gary Smith