Illiterate Readers

Readers are leaders

Me with some friends

I received a great quote by email from one of my readers recently; it was by Mark Twain. The old sage said, “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” I believe this is the worst kind of illiteracy, the one who can read, but won’t. This type of reader puts himself in the same category as the illiterate person. It may sound like a misnomer, but one could refer to these as illiterate readers.

Sometimes you hear certain people say, “I don’t like to read.” If you are like this, you need not tell even a moderately intellectual person; it will be apparent after only a few minutes of talking. I have found when carrying on a conversation, readers are delightful people to be around. 

How I enjoyed my morning chats with my wife, who was always reading some five books at any given time. And my son Andrew, who lives not too far from us, how interesting he is to converse with; his reading habits even surpass those of his mother.

Prior to young Timothy visiting his mentor in prison, he was asked by the old scholar, among other things, to bring his books. In his seclusion, Paul considered paper and ink as much a good companion as flesh and blood. Because of this, after 2000 years, I’m sure the aged Apostle would still advise any and all saints to “Give attendance to reading.” As one dear man of God said, “Learn all you can, put it under the Blood, and use it for Jesus.” 

God gave us a brain; He expects us to use it! Ignorance is not a goal to strive for. God gave us sixty-six different books in His Divine library, thus showing us He wanted us to have variety in our reading habits. The greatest need in the Church today is a Revival of Reading! First the Bible, then any and all good books, those which inform, entertain, and enlighten. And yes! even good fictional books.

“A man is known by the books he reads.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

by an Old Disciple

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