Caution: The phrase “Self Help” has become a cliché. Its use here is not intended to mean these “feel-good-about-your-self” ideology so prevalent in today’s motivational texts. Rather it implies those actions you can take on your own without being taught and explained upon by another being.
The bible has been used as a religious text by religions and it remains a spiritual book without any peer. While it tells the story of creation and contains plenty of historical records, it also teaches men how to live well.
I was introduced to the bible immediately after I learnt how to read (in mother-tongue).For a very long time, it was the only inspirational and guidance book I could afford. Since then, I have been blessed to also read many other motivational and guidance books. I still read. Across all the books I have happened to read so far, one observation remains; the best that they contain is already in the bible. Anything else apart from that is superfluous and may only aim to raise human ego and inspire selfishness and greediness.
Perhaps people (and especially the so called learned) have come to denigrate it because it contains an antithesis to human ego. It has become so popular and accessible to everyone that it has become an unattractive source of wisdom to the learned. But things were not always this way. Decades and centuries ago, the bible was the source of ultimate wisdom and knowledge to the very men of science and art we revere today.
Sir Isaac Newton, perhaps the most influential scientist of all time, came from very humble beginnings. He has been called “the greatest scientific genius the world has known.” Yet he spent less time on science than on theology. He spent more time on theology than on science; indeed, he wrote about 1.3 million words on biblical subjects. Newton’s understanding of God came primarily from the Bible, which he studied for days and weeks at a time. In his own words,
“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being. … This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called “Lord God” or “Universal Ruler”. … The Supreme God is a Being eternal, infinite, absolutely perfect.”(1)
“Opposition to godliness is atheism in profession and idolatry in practice. Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors.”(2)
Michael Faraday, also a renowned scientist (the father of electricity) was also a devout bible scholar. He was arguably the best experimentalist in the history of science. Apprenticed at age 14 to a local bookbinder and seller, he educated himself and developed an interest in science. He was a church elder of the Sandemanian church. In his own words,
“Yet even in earthly matters I believe that “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead,” and I have never seen anything incompatible between those things of man which can be known by the spirit of man which is within him, and those higher things concerning his future, which he cannot know by that spirit” (3)
“… I cannot doubt that a glorious discovery in natural knowledge, and the wisdom and power of God in the creation, is awaiting our age, and that we may not only hope to see it, but even be honoured to help in obtaining the victory over present ignorance and future knowledge.”(4)
Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest electrical and mechanical engineers to ever live had this to say about the bible,
“The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power. My Mother had taught me to seek all truth in the Bible; therefore I devoted the next few months to the study of this work.”(5)
“Peace can only come as a natural consequence of universal enlightenment and merging of races, and we are still far from this blissful realization, because few indeed, will admit the reality that “God made man in His image” in which case all earth men are alike. There is in fact but one race, of many colors. Christ is but one person, yet he is of all people, so why do some people think themselves better than some other people?”(6)
The above quotes are not presented here to prove anything. There are mere illustrations that bible can be used and is a source of wisdom, inspiration and guidance. Well people have misused it to subjugate others but that is beside the point.
The bible contains enough practical wisdom for anyone willing to learn, even for unbelievers. The book of Proverbs, itself has plenty of practical advice on business, family and even political issues. All psychological self-help books borrow from the bible. Only that they spice up their texts with modern illustrations and examples.
Are you a lazy human? It counsels “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!” Proverbs 6:6(NLT). We are even applying Ant colony optimization algorithms in artificial intelligence!
You want to become a leader, you are counseled, “It is not for kings, Lemuel– it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, “Proverbs 31:4(NIV)
For those who love philosophy, Ecclesiastes is there awaiting you!
- “Meaningless! Meaningless! “Says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 4 .Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 5. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises” Ecclesiastes 1:2-5.
For advice on courting and romance, we have Songs of Solomon!
“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” Song of Solomon 8:4.
The bible is still relevant today. You only need to read it for yourself. What would you hold against it? That is has been used to mislead multitudes? Men will use any tool to achieve their ends but that does not mean we disqualify the means as a whole.
Footnotes:
1.Principia, Book III; cited in; Newton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections from his writings, p. 42, ed. H.S. Thayer, Hafner Library of Classics, NY, 1953.
- A Short Scheme of the True Religion, manuscript quoted in Memoirs of the Life, Writings and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton by Sir David Brewster, Edinburgh, 1850; cited in Newton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections from his writings, p. 65, ed. H.S. Thayer, Hafner Library of Classics, NY, 1953.
- Jones, B. 1870. The Life and Letters of Faraday: Volume II. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 325-326
- Ibid, 385.
- My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla.
- Ibid.
