The Power of Reading Weighs More Than The Appetite Of Eating, So Teach Someone To Read, If You Can

by Benson Agoha | Opinion

Reading is knowledge and knowledge is Power. In fact, this is a common saying. But there is a greater power in the desire to know.

Because the desire to know precedes knowledge itself, it is very often, endlessly productive, with many facets of reward.

Christians are not unaware of the power of knowledge and the importance of building a desire to know.

* Credit: K. Abbed, MD

Very often, they are made aware of the importance of acquiring knowledge, with the popular scripture being 2 Timothy 2:15, which urges them to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

But knowledge, is a human and sociological need rather than a religious one. As a result, it transcends cultures, predates religion and engenders the designation of social universes of all sorts.

The innate curiosity of man to create change by discovering his environment, triggers the desire to know, and from knowing, to become the master of his own destiny - relatively speaking at least.

Indeed, to a large extent man has done this. From cohabiting caves with wild and dangerous animals to creating complex fields of learning that have now achieved modern urban communities replete with high rise structures.

Beyond the forests, air, water and fruits with which nature supported man's survival over several thousand years, every other change in the environment has been achieved by man has been as a result of his desire to explore and discover his environment.

One of the important aspects of knowledge is Reading. In today's society, reading is a fundamental requirement to successfully function in business or private live.

The importance of reading can usually not be over-emphasized because of its relevance in every society. Governments have taken steps to partner with the private sector in its drive to encourage or change reading habits of citizens majorly because it enhances communication.

In the United Kingdom reading is being massively encouraged by the government and private agencies have taken the cue and and lending their support through public libraries and private sector initiatives.

The evening standard's mass literacy campaign has achieved phenomenal success, albeit because of the support of government and private donors who are fully aware of the difficulties faced by people who cannot read.

In modern societies, these difficulties include inability to understand medical prescriptions, inability to fill out simple forms, even finding a job is difficult to imagine if you cannot read, and according to one source "even day-to-day activities that many people take for granted become a source of frustration, anger and fear."

This vital skill is rated so highly by many well-paying jobs descriptions. Inability to read wastes time too and there is limitation to the amount of task such people can accomplish.

Many people who cannot read of ten exhibit minds that are not honed enough to accommodate divergent views, contrary to theirs. Indeed, understanding the written word is one way the mind grows show cases its ability.

Those who cannot read cannot teach their children or help them with school assignments.

And it is a good advise to say that if you wish to make a new discovery, learn to read.

In Japan, a statue was appropriately unveiled which demonstrates that 'reading' carries more weight than 'eating.' The statue shows a little girl with volumes of books tilting the balance and weighing more than a boy bloated with fat, when both were placed on a scale.

In this regard, it can be argued that knowing to read is very capable of enhancing an individual's image and defend their own standpoint without resorting to physical confrontation.