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How would you prioritize the three reasons given in this lesson for studying the Bible for yourself: “It is essential to knowing and loving God;” “It is essential for growing up in God;” and “It is essential to serving God”? What is the basis for how you prioritize them? Are any of the three reasons more or less important for you than the others? Do you have other reasons than these?
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The three given reasons are intertwined, but if I must rank them, the priority would be “to know/love God”, “to grow in Christ”, “to serve God”. This is because the ultimate reason for growing and serving should be loving God. Otherwise your efforts may become just a duty or it is for your own glory. Moreover, knowing God is a primary basis. A person who serves God without God is quite dangerous: he may fall into and lead others into error. Secondly, growing in Christ should come as a higher priority to serving God. We can only produce and reproduce what we already are/have. So we should be overly preoccupied with serving, if we aren’t growing at the same time.
Finally, I wonder whether defending the truth against error should be a fourth main reason for Bible study. This, after all, was the context why Paul told Timothy to be able to handle the word of God correctly in 2 Tim 2:15. There were false teachers who were threatening to mislead the church. -
I agree with all these reasons
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In order of priority, to know and Love GOD is the most important because without that, the other two have no foundation to grow on, then serving GOD because GOD is worth our service, growth is something that takes place from the moment we accept GOD until the day it becomes our greatest reward to be in HIS presence.
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I believe the order they are in is perfect. Getting to know God and loving God will help us to grow up in God and to eventually serve God. Studying to learn more about God, builds that loving relationship and helps us to serve God and others. I believe they are all essential in our daily lives.
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All three work in unison, neither work in a vacuum
