The Bible Is Still The Wisdom Of The Ages

In 2OO8, Life.Church launched BibleApp. It recently topped 2OO million installations, with 1,2OO versions available in 9OO languages. Every second, 112 people are opening YouVersions BibleApp. This multiplies to 6,72O per minute, 4O3,2OO per hour, or 9,676,8OO people per day seeking the wisdom of the Bible online.

So, what are the results of recent data analysis? Romans 12:2 was bookmarked, shared, and highlighted more than any other verse since the inception of BibleApp. The same can be said for Joshua 1:9 for the year 2O15. The most popular verses were Isaiah 41:1O in Mexico, the U.S., and South Korea, and Jeremiah 29:11 in Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa. In Canada the most popular verse was Ephesians 1:23, and in China it was I Corinthians 1O:13,

Overall, the top five verses for 2O15 were 1) Proverbs 3:5-6, 2) Philippians 4:6-7, 3) Joshua 1:9, 4) Romans 12:2, and 5) Romans 15:13. These were shared the most in emails, texting, and social media. (So much for monitoring what we do.)

No matter what the scoffers and Bible-bashers say, the Bible is still immensely popular worldwide. Why is this so? I believe the answer is given in Psalm 19:7-11. “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned; in keeping of them there is great reward.”

People want wisdom today in the midst of all the political and economic chaos. They want hope and peace in a world full of terrorism. As the results of this analysis reveal people want to draw upon the wisdom and power of a Divine Creator and spiritual resources beyond their own limited and finite reasoning. With that said, it comes as no surprise that a verse like Proverbs 3:5-6 was the number one passage of scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Most important, however, is that the Bible changes hearts and character because, “All scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”(II Timothy 3:16-17).

Is the Bible part of your regular reading? Can you name a specific way the Bible has impacted your life?