When you want to know something about some new subject, what do you do? For a lot of people, they go to Google, and then look for a YouTube video. As you know Dr. Google knows everything, or at least it seems. This is a quick way to find out information. More and more people are turning to this quick and easy way to find information they want in just a matter of minutes.
You may look at a video instead of reading some information about a subject. Even if you read a short condensed article on the web, you probably scan the article to find the answer to your question. More and more people are getting away from reading books. If you do read a book, you need to ask yourself the question: “Am what I a reading mentally stimulating or just telling you what you need to do or stimulating some emotion?” Few are the people who read for mental stimulation. You, probably, read to satisfy some sensual or emotional need or for an author to tell you what you need to do. Not many people read for mental stimulation.
One person, who was deeply concerned about this issue, said it this way: “The reading which counts is the reading which, in making a man think, stirs and exercises and polishes the edge of his mind” (Leon Gutterman). Even though you are reading less, what is of a higher concern is the fact that few read anything that stimulates their mental thinking.
Believe it or not, the Bible encourages you to read using your mental abilities. Paul and Silas ministered to the people in Berea. The Bereans did not receive their words. What they told them was strange teaching which was difficult for them to believe. Their result is seen in Acts 17:11, “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Yes, what Paul and Silas said the Bereans “received the word with great eagerness.” That means they did not just immediately reject what was said, but they decided to search what the Bible said to see if it was true. They heard what was said and went to their houses and were “examining the Scriptures.” They mentally compared the things they heard with Scripture.
Make 2019 a year to stretch those mental muscles!
