What Do We Read?

The following poem from an unknown author, is designed to help us think about what kind of written material we read and its importance relative to the Bible (Matthew 4:4; cf. Deuteronomy 8:3):

They read the Journal and the News,
The Green Book and the Red;
They kept the serials of the month
securely in their head.

They went through books both old and new
— best sellers, too, they thought;
They read the jokes and scanned the styles
— no item went for nought.

They read the sporting page — they
called each athlete by name;
They read of baseball, football, golf
— familiar with each game.

They look the funny paper through
they watched the mails to seize
The magazine they like the best,
whose columns did most please.

But in their home there was a Book,
with pages never turned,
Whose messages of truth and hope
were still by them unlearned.

The only Book that tells of Him who
came that we might know
The Truth that saves and comforts
us in this vile world below.

What a pity that they do not know
this man of Galilee!
How sad they do not seek for things
of immortality!

But, no, they read and laugh and cry
o’er stories of the hour,
And let the Book, dust-covered lie
— unopened in its power!

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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