Although I love to read, I’ve never really enjoyed reading biographies.  I don’t know why that is, but I realized that I’ve been missing out.  As I began to think about putting together a series of posts on faithful women, I decided to see what the Bible says about the importance of studying history, which includes reading about people from the past.  I found five biblical reasons to read biographies.

1. TO REMEMBER THE PAST

    “Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.”     Deuteronomy 32:7 CSB

We are told that we should remember the past (“the days of old”).  We are also told to remember the lives of people who have lived before us (“the years of past generations”).  When we read biographies, we are being obedient to Scripture.  It would be tragic if so many great heroes of faith were forgotten because we failed to remember.

2. TO LEARN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE

    “For ask the previous generation, and pay attention to what their fathers discovered, since we were [born only] yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are but a shadow.  Will they not teach you and tell you and speak from their understanding?” Job 8:8-10 CSB

In the grand scheme of eternity, our lives are but a shadow.  We cannot possibly learn everything in our few short years on Earth.  When we read biographies, we can learn from the lives of others so much that we wouldn’t know otherwise.  We can greatly benefit from the knowledge and experiences of those of whom we are reading.

3. TO SEE GOD’S HAND AT WORK

    “Indeed, ask about the earlier days that preceded you, from the day God created mankind on the earth and from one end of the heavens to the other: Has anything like this great event ever happened, or has anything like it been heard of? Has a people heard God’s voice speaking from the fire as you have, and lived? Or has a god attempted to go and take a nation as his own out of another nation, by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.”    Deuteronomy 4:32-35 CSB

God has been at work throughout history, working in the lives of His people and bringing His plan to completion.  When we read about the lives of others, we can see God’s hand at work.  We can’t always see God’s hand in our current circumstances.  Reading biographies should provide comfort and hope as we realize that God is working in our lives just as He did in the lives of those we read about.   

4. TO AVOID REPEATING THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS

    “Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.”   1 Corinthians 10:6 CSB

In the verses that precede and follow this one, the apostle Paul is recounting some of the low points from Israel’s history, primarily the sins that they committed (1 Cor. 10:1-13).  He says that these things are recorded so that we might not fall into the same sin that they did.  Reading biographies can serve as a warning about certain sins, so we may be more cautious when facing the same temptations.  It is also encouraging to realize that we are not the only ones struggling with certain sins.

5. TO BE ENCOURAGED BY THE FAITHFULNESS OF OTHERS

    “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.”     Hebrews 12:1-3 CSB

This passage follows the well-known “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11 of Hebrews, where many faithful people from Scripture are mentioned.  Most of these people endured suffering and hardship, yet they remained faithful to God until the end.  As we read their stories, and the stories of other faithful Christians throughout church history, we will be encouraged to remain faithful no matter what trials we may be facing.  We may just find the strength we need to finish our race and not give up.  Of course, the greatest biography we could ever read is that of Jesus Christ, found in the Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).  Jesus is the ultimate example of remaining faithful to God’s calling.

*This post is the beginning of a new series I’ll be writing called “She Lived Worthy,” featuring women throughout church history, as well as modern times, who lived worthy of the calling God placed on their lives. I’ll be reviewing the biographies that I’m reading. Stay tuned for upcoming posts!