Was Paul really afraid of danger? Yes, he was, for even though he was Paul, he was still a man. This is not to say anything against him but rather about the infirmity of human nature.

—John Chrysostom, Homilies of the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, 6.2

We ask you, O Lord, give strength to the weary, aid to the sufferers, comfort to the sad, help to those in tribulation. Amen.

—The Ambrosian Sacramentary

I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: Just hovering over the great gulf; until, a few moments hence, I am no more seen: I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: For this very end he came from heaven. He has written in down in a book [the Bible]. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book]. (1) Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: Only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book, for this end, to find the way to heaven [emphasis mine]. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of Lights:—”Lord, is it not your word, ‘If any one lack wisdom, let him ask of God?’ You ‘give liberally, and do not [scold].’ You have said, ‘If any be willing to do your will, he shall know.’ I am willing to do, let me know, your will.” I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” I meditate [on your word] with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God.

—John Wesley, Preface to the Sermons

In this tightly packed paragraph we have a great reminder as to why we read the Bible (it is not an end to itself, but rather a means to a greater end—heaven, i.e., life with God here and hereafter), and how to read the Bible. We approach it with faith, find some alone time with God, and use our God-given intellect to help us understand the plain meaning of Scripture. When we run into difficult passages, we look to other passages to help us better understand them. We ask God for enlightenment (faith in action), and seek the counsel of fellow Christians (more faith in action).

Remember your [previous] leaders [in faith], who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

—Hebrews 13:7-8 (TNIV)

Our faith is dependable because its object does not change. That was the whole point of the previous examples of folks who lived and died in faith that the writer of Hebrews cited, and why we should imitate them. Our faith does not have a moving target at which to shoot. That’s why it is trustworthy.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright.

—Genesis 25:29-34 (TNIV)

At first blush this seems like a strange little story. But look at the last sentence. There is the punchline. Esau let his own desires trump the inheritance that he would have had by being the first-born son. This was no ordinary inheritance. It was the inheritance his grandfather Abraham had received from God. In other words, Esau gave up God’s covenant promises to Abraham and Isaac. God’s promises were not as important to Esau as his own desires. How often do we “despise our birthright” as God’s children for our own misguided, shortsighted, and selfish desires?