Sunday, 10th July, 2016.
Scripture Reading: Daniel 9:2
Memory verse for the week: Prov. 6:6
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”
A culture is a way of life. Developing a reading culture simply means “cultivating a habit of reading as a way of life.” A wise man once said that where you will be in five years time will be determined by two things: The friends you keep and, the books you read.
Another wise man also said, “If you want to hide a treasure from a black man, hide it in a book. “. This is due to the fact that most people have a very poor reading culture. There is the need for one to develop a reading culture if one desires to become a force to reckon with especially in this information age. It is good to pray and fast, but this isn’t a substitute to the culture of reading.
There is no doubt that we have a very poor reading culture among teens especially with the advent of i-phones. This in itself should be a plus because it makes good e-books available just by a click, but unfortunately, it is the cause of major distractions for teenagers. Lots of time is spent jesting unnecessarily in various chat rooms.
Readers are leaders and leaders are readers. The story behind the glory of great and successful men reveals just that! You read for relaxation, for information, for education, for insight and …for the fun of it.
Why develop a reading culture?
1) It is the pathway to greatness: True education does not necessarily take place within the four walls of a classroom. If you are not informed, you will be deformed; if you are not inspired, you will expire; if you are not updated, you will be outdated. Reading opens you up to vital information that will lead you to your transformation. Anyone that desires to be great must place a premium on the acquisition of knowledge by developing a good healthy reading culture. The difference between the ruler and ruled, the leader and the follower, the successful and the suffering, the prosperous and the poor, the teacher and the student is most of the time the information they have. If you have the information people need they will in no doubt submit to you.
2) It brings inspiration and motivation: Biographies and autobiographies of great men have inspired millions into their own dimension of greatness. You, no doubt must have been inspired by some of the books you must have read before and you can imagine what will happen if you read more.
3) It makes you learn from other people’s experiences: A wise man once said, “If I have achieved anything great, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of those who have gone ahead of me”. When you stand on the shoulders of those who have gone ahead by reading their books, you tap into their wisdom, knowledge, experience e.t.c. and that gives you leverage in life.
4) It sharpens your skills: Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Whatever area of life you desire to be skilful in, make sure you read books in that field that is at least equal to the number of your age. E.g. if you want to be skilful in the area of investment, and you are fifteen years old, make sure you read at least fifteen books on investment.
PRAYER POINT: My Father, increase my appetite for useful information that will benefit my destiny in Jesus name.