It is said that towards the end of his life, when suffering from the effects of a lifetime of drinking, an ill W.C. Fields was discovered reading the Bible by one of his friends.

The astonished friend asked “What are you–an atheist–doing reading the Bible?

“I’m looking for loopholes,” Fields replied.

How we read the Bible is as important as reading the Bible. Many read the Bible looking for loopholes–ways to get around it’s obvious truths. Some read the Bible looking for ways to confirm what they have already decided to be the truth. Others read it hoping to find instructions for living–Remember this little diddy…”Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I know, I found it corny when I first heard too.

I like to read the Bible to discover truths and priciples to live by. It often reminds me that I am not a citizen of this world but just a traveler passing through. It helps me to focus on the big things and not to be obsessed with the trivial. I often need to be reminded that God is present, no matter what I may be facing.

I recently read “Faith, hope, and love abide these three, but the greatest of them is love.” No loophole there. No way the world can confirm its tendency toward hatred here. It doesn’t even give us detailed instructions on how to practice love. It simply reminds us that the big thing is love.

Maybe we should focus more on the big thing!

This is my story…