Dear Friends,
Last week I shared some thoughts about the value of reading derived
from a class that is studying Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, one
of the classics on the subject of leadership. I mentioned I wanted to share
some additional thoughts on reading from his chapter, “Leadership and Reading,”
and I trust that some of the thoughts and insights below will stimulate,
encourage and challenge you in your pursuit of spiritual growth.
“A.W. Tozer said, ‘the major cause of the decline in the quality
of current Christian literature is not intellectual but spiritual. To enjoy a
great religious book requires a degree of consecration to God and detachment
from the world that few modern Christians have…One reason why people are unable
to understand great Christian classics is that they’re trying to understand
without any intention of obeying them’” (P. 123).
“The reader should read to have fellowship with great minds, A man
is known by the company he keeps, so also his character is reflected in the
books he reads. A leader’s reading is the outward expression of his inner
aspirations.” (P. 125).
"Indiscriminate reading serves no one well. Hobbes, the
English philosopher, once said ‘If I had read as many books as other people, I
would know as little’” (P. 125).
“A leader should neither be content with easy books nor satisfied
with reading only in his specialty. Muriel Ormrod counseled, ‘It I better that
we should always tackle something a bit beyond us. We should always aim to read
something different-not only the writer with whom we agree but those with whom
we are ready to do battle. And let us not condemn them out of hand because they
do not agree with us; their point of view challenges us to examine the truth
and to test their views against Scripture’” (P. 126).
“The leader should immerse himself in books that equip him for
higher service and leadership in the kingdom” (P 127).
“Spurgeon counseled his students, ‘Master those books you have.
Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and
reread them, masticate and digest therm. Let them go into your very self.
Peruse a god book several times and make notes and analysis of it. A student
will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly
mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed. Little learning and much
pride comes from hasty reading. Some men are disabled from thinking by their
putting meditation away for the sake of much reading. In reading let your motto
be much not many’” (P. 126).
“Canon Yates advised that ‘every good book needs three readings.
The first should be rapid and continuous, to give your mind an overview and to
associate the book’s material with your previous knowledge. The second reading
should be careful and paced. Take notes and think. Then after an interval of
time, a third reading should be like the first. Write a brief analysis of the
book on the inside back cover. Thus, will the book make a solid imprint on your
memory’” (P. 129).
“A book is a channel for the flow of ideas between on mind and
another. Share the information with others…Leaders should always cut a channel
between reading and speaking and writing, so that others derive benefit,
pleasure and inspiration” (P. 129).
I would love to hear any thoughts you have on this subject, as one
of the best ways we learn, if from one another.
Yours in faith and friendship,
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