‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required’ (Luke 12.48).

By William Greendyk, TBS (USA) General Secretary

‘Sir, may I please have a Bible?’ Juan, the 18 year-old man from an isolated, poor section of a small country in Central America, looked down at the floor with a mixture of timidness and shame after he presented me with his request. He was clearly not used to begging, but he wanted so much to have a Bible of his own! The pastor of the small church he attended had allowed him to come along on the nearly four-hour bus ride to be present at our Bible conference in the big city, and I could see that he was hoping to go home with his very own copy of God’s precious Word. My thoughts went to the story of a 15 year old girl named Mary Jones, who some 200 years earlier had walked barefoot for 26 miles in order to obtain her own Bible. The story of Mary Jones and her Bible, and of many others like her, had been a primary reason for the founding of the first missionary Bible societies in England in the early nineteenth century, which eventually led to the formation of the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1831. 

My work with the Trinitarian Bible Society often involves giving presentations regarding our work on the revision of the Spanish Bible in cities throughout Latin America. These meetings are usually meant for church and seminary leaders, but often the pastors who have been invited bring with them a few of the more sincere and concerned young people of their congregations to hear about the work that has been done by TBS to return the Spanish Bible to its former faithfulness to the original Biblical languages. My travels during the past years have not always been easy; however, I return from nearly every trip encouraged with a sense of the apparent growing hunger for God’s Word that is evident in Central and South America. While it is true that there is much false religion in these countries that is centered around a more charismatic, emotion-driven, and unbiblical fanaticism, my colleagues and I have come away from each of our conferences amazed and humbled by the number of Reformed, Baptist, Presbyterian, and other historically conservative churches that are springing up in cities and towns throughout the vast Hispanic world. In many areas of Latin America the local people in outlying areas are hearing and reading the Bible for the first time in their lives. It is humbling and encouraging to see such an interest in God’s Word, and the personal interactions with some of these people, particularly the young people, have left me with many deep impressions concerning how much we take for granted with our Bible and our Biblical upbringing. 

On this occasion, it touched me to see how much this young man desired his own Bible. There was a look of sincerity in his eyes, and I could not deny him his request. I gave him one of the two Spanish Bibles I had with me for my personal use, not realising that one of my business cards was tucked in the inside cover. Since I meet many such people during my travels, I did not give the incident much more thought, as the next day my colleagues and I travelled to another city in a neighbouring country. 

About a month later I received a letter from Juan. He apologised for taking the liberty to write to me, but he had found my email address on my business card I had left in the Bible. His note was brief and to-the-point. He wrote, 

Sir can you please tell me if it is wrong or disrespectful to read my Bible in the latrine behind our house? Will God be displeased if I read it and even pray to Him when I am in the latrine? My mother is a drunkard, and when she and her live-in boyfriend begin drinking, they often become very angry when I read the Bible, and last week she hit me with a frying pan because I was reading my Bible. I have nowhere else to go; I do not know who or where my father is, and we live in a small house here in the city with no other relatives in the area. Please, sir, your advice would be much appreciated. 

I was struck with how much we take our Bibles and the ability to read them for granted, and I felt ashamed at how unthankful I am for such privileges. I responded to Juan that I was very sorry to hear of his situation, and I assured him that I was quite convinced that, considering his circumstances, the Lord would not be offended if he were to read the Bible in the latrine. I added a few encouraging Bible verses and wished him the Lord’s blessing on his continued Bible reading. 

Juan’s reply to my response was quick to arrive. His forthrightness and sincerity were remarkable: 

Sir, thank you for your kind reply. However, I was not at all looking for your sympathy regarding my situation. I only wanted to know if I would be grieving the Lord by reading His Word in the latrine. You need not feel sorry for me, for I am very blessed; I have God’s Word! Please reserve your sympathy for the millions who do not have a Bible, and may the Lord grant that you may distribute many more Bibles to poor people who cannot afford them. God bless you, and thanks for your prompt response. 

I was again struck by how appreciative this young man was for having obtained his own copy of God’s precious Word, and rather than respond to him again, I thought to take heed to his advice, and tried to say a prayer for the many millions in this world who do not have access to the Scriptures as we do. I thought that this would be the last I would hear from Juan, and I tried to remember him in prayer as well. 

About two months later I received another unexpected letter from Juan. This time his letter was much more personal, and he poured out his heart to me. 

Sir, you will remember that I asked you about reading my Bible in the latrine. However, I’m finding that the more I read my Bible, it is teaching me that there is more wretchedness and filth in my own evil heart than there is in the latrine! Oh, what would that be to have the blood of Jesus Christ to wash me from my many sins! My Bible is teaching me that I am a very evil person in need of a Saviour. Please pray for me! 

Words fail to describe what goes through one’s mind upon reading such a letter. With what little concern for this man’s soul I had given him my Bible earlier that year, and until receiving his first letter I had never even prayed for the Lord’s blessing for his never-dying soul! I was filled with regret for my own initial indifference, but also grateful to the Lord for showing me once again that He is not dependent upon our prayers. Furthermore, the remarkably providential way in which Juan had received his Bible was humbling. I begged the Lord that He would continue to teach Juan of his great need for a Saviour, and that in His own blessed time, Juan would be taught further by the Spirit, and led to the blessed feet of Him Who came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Thus began a series of correspondence that continues to this day, and I am convinced that the Lord has begun a good work in this young man’s heart. He has since become a member of a Baptist church in a nearby city, bicycling the eight miles to church with joy each Lord’s Day, rain or shine. He recently wrote to me that he can’t wait for the Lord’s Day each week, because there he hears how the Lord can save people like him. 

Dear young friends who may read this article, has the Lord ever impressed upon your heart the great privilege that you have, in that you may not only have a Bible in your home but that you may also have your very own copy to read whenever you wish? Surely your parents do not beat you for reading it! Or have you become so used to having the Bible that it is the last book you pick up, and when you do so, is it only grudgingly when required at school, church, or at home? 

Remember, God’s Word clearly states, ‘unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required’ (Luke 12.48). You and I have been given much when we have the Bible, which is the revelation of God to man and the only book which is able to make us wise unto salvation. Read your Bible often, and pray for the saving application of the Holy Spirit to teach you who you are in yourself, as a fallen son of Adam, but also Who Jesus Christ is for such ones. He has come to this world not to save those who are holy, but those who are given to see, with our friend Juan in Central America, their own sinfulness and their need of a Saviour. May that Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His merits be applied to your and my hearts. 

First published in Quarterly Record 651. Updated 12 May 2025.