3 Interesting Ways the Bible is Relevant Today

One common misconception about the Bible is that it is thought to be outdated and therefore irrelevant.  If you tend to believe this assumption, please read on!  You might be surprised by some interesting ways the Bible is relevant today.

History merely repeats itself.  It has all been done before.  Nothing under the sun is truly new.  Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. – Ecclesiastes 1:9 NLT

Family Drama is No New Thing

Starting in the very first book of the Bible, readers learn about Adam and Eve’s first sons, Cain and Abel.  Within Chapter 4 of Genesis, Abel presented to God the “best” portions of his possessions, while his brother, Cain, presented “some” of his possessions to God.  When God did not accept Cain’s offering, Cain became very angry.  Confronting Cain, God encouraged him to do what was right.   Unfortunately, Cain did not correct his ways and further allowed jealousy toward Abel to fester in his heart.   This saga tragically ends with the murder of Abel, the banishment of Cain, and their parents heartbroken and devasted.  

When you think of your family drama, it might help to think of the drama that transpired in this first earthly family.  Hopefully, yours doesn’t compare with Cain and Abel’s drama!  If you need another example of family drama, check out Joseph’s story beginning in Genesis 37.  

Distracted from the Important

How often do you feel overwhelmed with deadlines, multiple schedules within your family, chores, etc?  Not to mention the new devotional you planned to start last week, but you still haven’t even cracked open the book.  Life is busy.  Sometimes, it’s easy to assume that this fact is a new thing because of our fast-paced technology.  Well, that’s not necessarily true.   The type of busyness might be different, but overwhelming busyness is nothing new.  Here is an example.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home.  Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary.  Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared.  But Martha became exasperated with finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself?  You should tell her to get up and help me.”

The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions?  Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

-Luke 10:38-42 TPT

It’s easy for the busyness of life to overwhelm the important things of life.  As your life draws to a close, you probably will not be concerned about the many times you left the full sink of dirty dishes, the piles of unwashed clothes, or the endless other busy things that attempt to consume your days.  More than likely, you will be concerned about your relationship with God and the people you love. 

Making the time for a daily devotional is an excellent way to keep the busyness of life from crowding out the important things of life.  Here’s a super simple tool if you don’t already have a daily devo.

People in the Bible Struggled with Anxiety and Depression 

Elijah’s struggle with anxiety and depression is detailed in 1 Kings 19.  In the previous book, readers learn that Elijah was a great prophet who boldly and defiantly confronted almost 1,000 pagan prophets in a public showdown.  Immediately afterward, the threats of just one woman, Jezebel, sent Elijah spiraling down into a deep pit of depression in which he wished for death.   

How could Elijah plummet from a bold and confident man of God to a fearful and depressed-stricken man, begging God to let him die in such a short amount of time?  Well, Elijah, just like every other person in the Bible, was a person with the same human emotions as the readers of today.  At that moment, Elijah allowed his current problems to overshadow his relationship with God, just as readers of today are tempted to do.  In addition, Elijah allowed his active and busy life to deprive himself of sleep and proper nutrition. That state of being made it easy for his emotions to run wild and cloud his judgment. 

Certainly, Elijah’s story of fatigue, fear and depression is an example of how the Bible is relevant today.

Fortunately, Elijah’s story doesn’t end with his life consumed with anxiety or depression, because God had good plans for him.  If you find yourself struggling with fear or anxiety, please remind yourself that God doesn’t want you stuck in that state.  He has good plans for you too!

Here’s a tool for you!