There are some people who need to read the papers daily. If they would miss it even for a day, they would feel uncomfortable. Equally, there are those who could not omit surfing the web without thinking that some parts of their routine overlooked. Indeed, life is filled with many tasks and we need to manage our time to absorb various forms of information from a multitude of portals. This is especially so in information technologically advanced countries like Singapore. It is not uncommon to see the working crowd glued to their mobile phones in the morning. The are checking out the latest World Cup news or updates of their friends via social media network while in queue for their lunch takeaway. On top of that, they also purchase the evening tabloid papers on the latest world and local news.

As Christians, we have to be very careful in selecting the type of information we should be absorbing and how we react to it. Our Lord Jesus had once taught: “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matthew 15:11). The reason is: “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matt 15:17-20). We are constantly bombarded by an onslaught of messages through the world’s media which contradict biblical values. The more time we spend immersed in these information and enjoy doing do, the more we would be living under its influence.

The Bible reminds us: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:17-19). The way we shield ourselves from the ways of the world is to fill our thoughts with the Word of God and meditate on it. To do this, regular Quiet Time is a necessity. This is the lifeblood for Christians to remain spiritually vibrant. If you, however, want to further understand and apply God’s Word in your life, reading Christian literature is the next necessity. The authors of these books authors share their life testimony, their experience and the essence of their research on a subject matter. Reading them is like listening to the words that pour forth from the heart of a spiritual elder, elucidating and encouraging us as to how we can be wiser and more Christ-like.

There is a wide variety of spiritual books. Where should you start? First, look at the bookcase right at the entrance to the church. Do not hurry. Just browse and see what subject matter interest you. You can also look at the classification of the books or ask our brothers and sisters for a recommendation. To promote the culture of reading Christian books in the church, TOLCC has agreed to regularly setup a theme-based “book stall” to introduce to you some titles. Today’s “book stall” is related to evangelism and it allows us to understand the importance of sharing the gospel from various perspectives and how you may overcome some difficulties. These books also offer various practical advice.

“Treasures”! Yes, you will then discover that in a small bookcase of our church, there are actually collections of so many “treasures.” In fact, these “treasures” have been placed right before our very eyes, waiting for us to uncover. So before or after worship, remember to take a look at the bookstall and the bookcase and borrow a book. Be it on your way to work, taking your lunch break, waiting for someone or when picking up the kids from school, anytime, anywhere, you can be reading.