Life's Instruction Manual
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
07/06/2021
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who read the instructions and those who do not. For example, let’s say you are attempting to assemble a new bicycle. Some people will sit down, before they even unpack all the parts, and read the entire set of instructions front to back. Others prefer to lay all the parts out, get a visual image of how the bike is supposed to go together, and then start turning nuts and bolts. It is only when they come to a problem that they pull out the instructions. This latter group lives by the axiom, “If all else fails, read the directions!”
When it comes to the Christian life, we have been given an instruction manual. It is called the Bible. The Apostle Paul tells us it is for “training in righteousness" so that we will be “fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In other words, God’s Word contains the blueprint for a successful life.
There have been many times in my life when I could have saved myself quite a bit of grief if only I would have consulted the Scriptures before taking action or making a major decision. The Bible is an intensely practical book. It is all right there in black and white. It is not difficult to read. It is not hard to understand. It was written specifically for us. Why would God give us an instruction manual but make it complicated and confusing? He would not and He did not.
Some time ago I was installing a ceiling fan and light kit in our family room. I read the instructions first only because my son was helping me, and I wanted to look like I knew what I was doing. Nevertheless, I still ran into several glitches as I tried to install the fan. At one point, I even had to take the whole thing apart and start over. Why? Because the directions were written by someone who had evidently never installed a ceiling fan before, and the diagrams looked like they were drawn by a preschooler using crayons! The instructions were unclear, complicated, and hard to follow.
Many people view the Bible that way. They mistakenly think it is complicated and confusing. Not true. Those who hold that opinion have never read it. Scripture is filled with rich, profound, and profitable truths that apply to everyday life. God’s Word should be our number one resource in the game of life. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1–2).
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors” (Proverbs 8:34). If we follow Life’s Instruction Manual, navigating life’s ebb and flow will be much easier.
07/06/2021
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who read the instructions and those who do not. For example, let’s say you are attempting to assemble a new bicycle. Some people will sit down, before they even unpack all the parts, and read the entire set of instructions front to back. Others prefer to lay all the parts out, get a visual image of how the bike is supposed to go together, and then start turning nuts and bolts. It is only when they come to a problem that they pull out the instructions. This latter group lives by the axiom, “If all else fails, read the directions!”
When it comes to the Christian life, we have been given an instruction manual. It is called the Bible. The Apostle Paul tells us it is for “training in righteousness" so that we will be “fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In other words, God’s Word contains the blueprint for a successful life.
There have been many times in my life when I could have saved myself quite a bit of grief if only I would have consulted the Scriptures before taking action or making a major decision. The Bible is an intensely practical book. It is all right there in black and white. It is not difficult to read. It is not hard to understand. It was written specifically for us. Why would God give us an instruction manual but make it complicated and confusing? He would not and He did not.
Some time ago I was installing a ceiling fan and light kit in our family room. I read the instructions first only because my son was helping me, and I wanted to look like I knew what I was doing. Nevertheless, I still ran into several glitches as I tried to install the fan. At one point, I even had to take the whole thing apart and start over. Why? Because the directions were written by someone who had evidently never installed a ceiling fan before, and the diagrams looked like they were drawn by a preschooler using crayons! The instructions were unclear, complicated, and hard to follow.
Many people view the Bible that way. They mistakenly think it is complicated and confusing. Not true. Those who hold that opinion have never read it. Scripture is filled with rich, profound, and profitable truths that apply to everyday life. God’s Word should be our number one resource in the game of life. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1–2).
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors” (Proverbs 8:34). If we follow Life’s Instruction Manual, navigating life’s ebb and flow will be much easier.
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