Reading the Bible challenges cultural narratives in such a way that a decision has to be made as to which narrative is true. The cultural narrative is so strong inside of us, we tend to read the Bible and think that sounds good, but it is not something I agree with let alone will apply to my life. Many people have read the Bible for various reasons. We would be surprised how many nefarious activities have been established in culture from reading the Bible. Doesn’t the Bible say, even the demons believe in God and shudder?

Here is our challenge, as believers, we read the Bible, we hear sermons, we listen to podcasts, we watch videos, but we are not changing our narrative to fit the word of God, for we are so baked into the narrative of culture. Reading Proverbs 15:16-17 this morning prompted these thoughts, listen to Solomon the wisest and richest man in the world at that time, what he has to say, “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”

How many of us would honestly say, I would rather have little and fear the Lord; I would rather have herbs and love around my table? I know everyone is thinking, I would, but would you really? Does your life reflect that as truth? I remember the day my boyfriend, who is now my husband, and I sat on the deck of my condo in Malaysia overlooking the city, and he said to me, “If it is you and me and a bowl of rice is that enough for you?” I did not flinch, but said in response, “If it is you and me (pause) that is absolutely enough for me.” We were engaged less than a month later.

The Lord has led me to lead a life where I have had much and I have very very little, but I have never been without. But one thing has been constant and that is the fear of the Lord which means obedience no matter the cost and it has produced a love for God and a love for people that no amount of money could ever buy. Friends, we must evaluate ourselves and ask the question, what do I truly value, because there are two narratives vying for your heart and they produce two very distinctly different fruit in our lives.