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Some time ago, I received a notice that if I kept up with my Bible reading plan, I would be entered into a drawing for a tablet, iPad mini or other prizes.
This gave me pause.
I understand the sentiment behind it.
I’m just not sure how I feel about it.
When I was a kid, I did a lot of work memorizing the Bible for AWANA, and won several awards, most of which are tucked away somewhere gathering dust. I hope the memory work is still in my head though.
A couple of years ago, I enjoyed attending a smaller-than-usual Beth Moore event because I’d completed a certain amount of Bible memory. In reciting all my verses, I received a gift from her resource table.
As an achiever, I get excited by results and rewards, but to be honest, I’m not sure how rooted any of the material I memorized is. Nonetheless, God’s word is powerful and won’t return void, so why criticize the initial motivation to keep people in it?
While I’m still not sure about this, there are worse things that can be encouraged.
[Tweet “Should we give out awards for memorizing the Bible? #bgbg2”]
Regardless, I am involved in a reading plan and will continue it, hoping to absorb more and more the sense of God’s word being needed in my life, not just a discipline I do to check off a list. That in itself will be its own reward.
What do you think? Should we give rewards for Bible reading and memorization?
[callout]Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. [biblegateway passage=”Psalm 119:105″][/callout]
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