Saving Shelf Space
Imagine getting in your automobile in Jacksonville, Florida and traveling west on Interstate 10. According to mapquest.com, after about twelve hours of driving, you would find yourself in Houston, Texas. You would also have driven approximately 870 miles.
Now, imagine one more thing (if you can). Try to imagine a bookshelf or any number of bookshelves that would cover that same distance.
If you would have stopped about thirty miles before you arrived in Houston, you would have driven about the same distance as the shelf space used by the Library of Congress to hold all of the material it has. The actual number I read was 838 miles.
On top of that, about 12,000 new items are added to the library every day. It seems to me that there may come a time when even 838 miles of shelf space might not be sufficient.
All of that reminded me of something that a wise man was inspired to write these words a long time ago:
Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Eccl. 12:12)
The contents of the Library of Congress should serve as evidence that this is true – especially when one considers the fact that it is far from being the only library in the world. While there seems to be some debate about whether or not it is the largest, there can be no argument about it being one of many libraries.
It is of interest to me that the book of Ecclesiastes does not end with that inspired statement about the seemingly incalculable number of books. Instead it ends with what I believe to be a concise summary of what a lot of people are trying to find in many of those books.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
(Eccl. 12:13-14)
While there is value in various books, one book doesn’t take up much shelf space. I don’t even need to leave my house to read and study it.
I think that it would be a good idea for all of us to remember that…
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn