This post is by Deborah Talbert, loving and faithful wife to Pastor Bud Talbert and mother to five children, one of whom is my husband, David. Her teaching has shaped my life, as it has many, many women who knew her. On January 15, 2023, she passed into eternity after a battle with pancreatic cancer. We learned much from her as she suffered and trusted God to the end. This article was written years ago, and she didn’t merely teach these truths; she lived them out. Articles on this site have been republished with her blessing and are here to allow her life’s work to continue to touch lives.
Never in the history of mankind has there been such a proliferation of written materials so readily accessible to the general public. Written material is clamoring for our time and attention, luring us with slick covers or bold advertising to delve into its pages. As Christian women we need to have some guidelines for selecting good reading materials. In this busy age it is not even a choice between good and bad, but rather selecting what is best, to fill our allocated reading time.
1 Corinthians 10:31 guides us for our goal in all activities:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Our reading should be done to the glory of God. How is this accomplished?
The things we allow ourselves to read should draw positive attention to the Lord, should laud His attributes, should cause us to worship Him for His works among mankind. Much that is written today, even under the guise of being Christian, does not do this. Many self-help or psychology-based “Christian” books are written with an unstated premise that God is not sufficient to solve the problems of mankind. These authors feel they have to “help God out” by offering human based reasoning to solve man’s problems. This approach does not glorify God.
Other books, especially novels, and including many published by Christian publishing houses, are written to stir the emotions as opposed to glorifying God. Tragedies, affairs of the heart, missed opportunities, all tug at our hearts, but do these stories glorify God? There are varying degrees of effort toward accomplishing this on the part of the authors. No matter how engrossing a story may be, we should set the book aside if the main gist of the book does not direct us to bring glory to the Lord.
We can and we should evaluate our reading materials carefully as we read books or build our library. What kind of books then should we as Christian ladies look for when beginning or adding to a library? I would like to suggest that we include books from five general categories with specific selections recommended for each one.
First, every Christian can benefit from reference materials.
Here are a few top recommendations. We may not agree completely with every word written within every volume, but generally these recommendations will give us good sound help, and aid in our study of the Scriptures.
“To enrich your preaching, teaching, and personal study of God’s Word, this clear, accurate, and easy-to-use dictionary offers the most up-to-date evangelical biblical scholarship as well as fascinating, detailed explanations of biblical words. Whether you’re a pastor, a seminary student, or a lay student of the Bible, this expository dictionary offers a wealth of information about the original Hebrew and Greek words of Scripture.” (Amazon description)
“Carefully selected and abridged from The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary, this dictionary is truly portable, yet packed with more than 1,000 clear and accurate entries that draw on up-to-date evangelical scholarship in biblical studies, archaeology, geography, history, and theology. For anyone who studies the Bible, this little dictionary will prove to be a trove of information to aid in personal study and in preparation for teaching.” (Amazon description)
“The Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic dictionaries now have three times more word study information than any other edition. Plus additional cross-references from leading dictionaries make this the ultimate reference tool for pastors, teachers, and all students of the Bible.” (Amazon description)
“This detailed yet readable commentary, based on the New International Version of the Bible, is ideal for pastors, Bible teachers, students, or anyone looking for a reliable help in personal Bible study. Now with updated contemporary covers, this classic series will reach a new generation of readers. With maps, charts, cross-references, bibliographies, book introductions, and helpful historical background, The Bible Knowledge Commentary Series addresses readers’ deepest questions as it draws them into the truth and power of Scripture.” (Amazon description)
Next we should include books in our libraries that are considered classic Christian works.
Who can forget the wonderful allegory spread out for us in Pilgrim’s Progress as Christian’s heavy burden rolls from his back when he stands at the foot of the cross?
“One of the most widely read books of all time, this adventure reveals John Bunyan’s intense grasp of the Scriptures. Penned while in prison for refusing to compromise the gospel, The Pilgrim’s Progress is a guide for the journey from death to life. The times have changed, but the landmarks and adversaries are very much the same.” (Amazon description)
How many of us have been humbled and shamed as we read of the courageous believers who peacefully stood fast for Christ in the face of torture and death introduced to us in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs?
“The Acts and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by Protestant English historian John Foxe, first published in 1563 by John Day.” (Amazon description)
How many of us were pricked to evaluate our motives and actions by Amy Carmichael’s If? These and other classic books encourage us in a holy walk with God.
“A little book, based on First Corinthians 13, about showing Calvary love in common life. ‘If…I have not compassion on my fellow-servant, even as my Lord had pity on me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.’ Over 100,000 in print.” (Amazon description)
Third, we are aided by proper devotional books.
There are many from which to choose today, but again, we want to select those that draw our thoughts to the Lord and bring glory to Him. Let me insert an admonition here. Devotional reading or reading of biographies or of Christian classics, or even the use of good reference materials is not to replace our Bible reading. God speaks to us through His living Word, and we speak to Him through prayer. Don’t be fooled into substituting good reading for essential reading—that of the Word of God. I have glanced through devotional books that are almost entirely man-centered. If you cannot find a godly devotional book, reading the texts of old hymns along with your Bible reading can be quite a blessing and draw your thoughts to the Lord. Suggestions for good devotionals would include the following: Streams in the Desert series by Mrs. Charles Cowman and Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon.
“Everyone goes through difficult seasons, tough losses, and moments that feel unbearable. In today’s world, people thirst more than ever for reassurance and guidance. Streams in the Desert provides a river of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration to weary travelers.” (Amazon description)
“For more than 150 years, Morning and Evening has provided millions of readers encouragement, challenge, and thought-provoking insight from the pen of one of history’s most beloved preachers, Charles H. Spurgeon.” (Amazon description)
365 Gospel-Centered Devotions for the Whole Year
“Mornings can be tough. Sometimes, a hearty breakfast and strong cup of coffee just aren’t enough. Offering more than a rush of caffeine, best-selling author Paul David Tripp wants to energize you with the most potent encouragement imaginable: the gospel.” (Amazon description)
Fourth, we should read about church history.
We find great encouragement in reading about godly people in church history who have helped lay the groundwork for our faith and freedoms today. Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for missionary biographies. However, there are many men and women from the pages of church history whose lives challenge and encourage us to godly living, and not just missionaries. Saints have lived by faith, taken strong stands, and encouraged others by their Christ-honoring lives. In Martin Luther God used a simple priest to break the stranglehold of Romanism and show people the way of salvation. John Bunyan was a tinker by trade, but was wholly given over to learning about truth and teaching others also. George Muller lived his life by absolute faith in God and is a shining example to us of what total faith can accomplish. Reading about church history, and specifically about the lives of saints who have gone before us, can have a powerful and positive influence on our Christian growth.
The last category is that of missionary biographies.
As a child I was a voracious reader. Our church had a small library that contained a selection of children’s books which we could check out and read. There I first discovered missionary stories. Within the pages of these books were heroes of the faith—men and women who in obedience to God traveled to various places in the world in order to tell others about Christ. (See my top recommendations here.) I held my breath as I read of dangers and hardships faced by other believers. I wept as I learned of Christians who died for their faith. I rejoiced as an embittered antagonist surrendered to the claim of Christ on his darkened life. Not stuffy or boring, but full of pathos and adventure, these books were written to the glory of God.
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