I love books.

If you know me well, that might sound like an understatement.

I came across a couple of quotes a while back that say it well:

• “There never yet have been, nor are there now, too many good books.” – Martin Luther
• “When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.” – Erasmus, an old scholar
• “I cannot live without books.” – Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1815

Books shape us. They guide our minds, sharpen our affections, broaden our vision, and confront us with truths we might never encounter otherwise. From fiction that fires our imagination to biography that stirs and reminds us of God’s faithfulness, to theology that reorients our life deeper in Christ—good books help deepen our spiritual growth, encourage critical thinking to better understand God and His Word, and serve as tools for discipleship.

Ever since I was a little kid, I have had a love and fascination with books. My mom told me she potty-trained me by bribing me with books, and how she’d find me as a little tyke with a dictionary on my lap, flipping pages, enamored with words. And, looking back, it appeared that my dad was continually building me new bookcases in his wood shop.

As I got older, I would save up money … to buy another book. And my “addiction” became so strong that my first job was in a Christian bookstore.

If you ask me now how many bookcases I have that are overflowing, I’d be slightly embarrassed to say (though the bulk of my collection is now digital). In short, I have an insatiable obsession with paper wrapped in a cover (and its digital equivalent).

It is marvelous to me that I can escape on an epic adventure through fiction, join in the battles of old by reading history, plunge into the depths of Scripture by reading insights from Christians throughout the ages, and I can be mentored, encouraged, and challenged by some of the wise and godly people throughout Christian history.

All within a book … which typically costs less than what someone pays for a meal.

The Priority

Obviously, there is no substitute for reading Scripture—that is, first and foremost, primary and the priority.

It has often been said throughout Christian history that we should be men or women of “one book” (Scripture). I agree. And yet when you study the lives of Christian men and women in history who were “of one book,” you often find that they were voracious readers of other books as well (for example, consider Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Leonard Ravenhill, A.W. Tozer, etc.).

But, again, as Christians, we must make the Bible the primary text of our lives—reading Scripture for breadth and studying it for depth. It must be the priority and foundation of our lives.

And we must remember to read all other books with discernment, measuring them against the standard of Scripture.

The Three Books I’d Take on My Island “Adventure”

I was once asked: If you were stranded on an island with only three books, which would you choose?

That question is painful for it presumes that being on an island would be considered “stuck” (haha), and that I could only choose three books.

My quick (somewhat cheeky) answer would be that I’d want my Kindle device and my Logos Bible software with all my digital books downloaded (along with a power supply to recharge the device).

BUT … if I had to pick three physical books to find myself stranded on an island, here is what is at currently at the top (I’m also presuming I didn’t know about the island adventure, otherwise I would have carried along a “how to survive book”).

1. The Bible

No surprise here. In truth, this would be the single book I would choose. One could spend all of one’s life and still not plumb the depths contained within this one cover. In some ways, I almost want to purposely strand myself upon an island in order to have the entirety of my day soaking and saturating within the depths of Jesus and His Word. I would not need another book if I had but this one; for, as it has often been said by countless others, the Bible is its own best commentary.

2. The Christian in Complete Armor (William Gurnall)

If I could have one other book besides the Bible, I’d probably choose the classic The Christian in Complete Armor, written by William Gurnall in the sixteenth century.

This is one of those books that countless believers, since it was written, have pointed to as being on their top ten list. Charles Spurgeon said that this book is “peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom. The book has been preached over scores of times and is, in our judgment, the best thought-breeder in all our library.” John Newton said, “If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour.” David Wilkerson once wrote:

Leonard Ravenhill, a very godly friend, gave me a copy of this book with these solemn words, “This book is going to revolutionize your life. It has had a profound effect on my life, and I believe you are prepared to receive its message now.” At first I put the book aside… Out of curiosity, I later scanned the first 25 pages. That is all it took to bring me to my knees. Gurnall, the pious puritan, has touched something deep within me. His were such probing, scorching, searing words that they shook my inner man. I devoured the book with great zeal… I will forever bless the day it was placed in my hands. … I believe The Christian in Complete Armour, should be in the library of every man and woman of God. No Christian leader, teacher, pastor, evangelist, or Christian worker should be without it.

Though 700-plus pages may seem like a lot, every page overflows with rich Scriptural truth and insight. This is one of those books I could read over and over and always find greater wisdom within.

If you are wanting to jump into the book and feel a bit intimated, here are two starter suggestions:

• Read David Wilkerson’s three-volume updated edition. Wilkerson took Gurnall’s massive book and broke it into three smaller volumes, and tweaked the old English so that it reads a bit smoother for our modern day.
• Check out an updated (and abridged) daily reading from Christian in Complete Armor. While not the entire book, it gives you a selected reading for every day of the year to begin wading into its depths.

3. A Third Book?

This is painful, how can I choose only one more book?!

Just so you can see my thought process, I sit here wrestling with my options and these quickly come to the top:

• Oswald Chambers’s Complete Works or his My Utmost for His Highest
• Treasury of David (Charles Spurgeon)
• Morning and Evening (Charles Spurgeon)
• Mrs. Cowman’s Streams in the Desert (there is also a great morning/evening edition)
• The School of Christ (T. Austin-Sparks)
• Saving Life of Christ and the Mystery of Godliness (Ian Thomas)
• Martyrs Mirror (Thieleman Van Bragt)

I could go on and on with some of the books that I recommend everyone to read (also check out this post).

But the more I consider a third book, the more I lean toward bringing a hymnal (this is a new one that I’ve really enjoyed). If I were stuck on an island, having the theology and reminder of God’s character, purpose, and Word through song would be a rich blessing. Whether you sing them or merely read the lyrics, many of the old hymns are full of theology and biblical truth in song form. It sounds like a fun addition to my island adventure.

Reading Shapes Our Life

Of course, life isn’t lived on an island, and Christians aren’t called to read only three books. But when we read classic Christian books, they shape our lives and guide our thinking on prayer, holiness, missions, discipleship, suffering, the Christian life, and so much more.

If you want a great place to start, listen to my episode on My Top 12 Favorite Classic Christian Books or the one on 5 Christian Books You Should Read This Summer. Or you can just see my long list of recommended reading for every Christian.

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FOOTNOTES

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