You may think it a ridiculous question if, like many 21st-century Christians, you do well to barely squeeze the Bible into your day.
“Read the Bible too much? Ha, if only I had that problem!” Such would have been my response just a year or two ago.
But now that I have a desire for the Word, and time to spend in it, I often wonder – is it possible to do the wrong thing by reading the Bible?
Yes.
It is possible to shut yourself in a room with your Bible for hours on end to the sinful neglect of important tasks, personal relationships, godly investments, even prayer. Bible study can become an idol.
And responsibilities don’t disappear just because you’re studying Scripture. You don’t just show up late for work, leave the baby crying, or make the family wait for dinner because you have to study the Bible first. If reading the Bible keeps you from obeying it, you’re doing it wrong.
So, fight for time in the Word. Fight, too, for the grace to live it well.
Fight to prioritize the study of Scripture. Fight, too, to keep it in its proper place.
To know the Word is to know God. No wonder we stop what we’re doing to read it.
But to live the Word, we must eventually stop reading it – and live it.
[image credit: unsplash.com]
Nice post, Lydia. Knowing the Word in order to live the Word is the goal, not knowing the Word in order to know the Word. 🙂 Lovely to visit you from Monday musings, today. ((grace upon grace))
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I’m visiting from Literary Musing Monday. Your title grabbed my attention! You make a good distinction. We need to be doers of the Word as well as hearers and readers.
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Yep.
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
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This is good advice!
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Oh I see your point here😂
But I think it is more of fighting for study time to han too much reading…for me😃
Was wondering what you meant.. but this is Good advice. Balance and moderation
Blessings to you
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I’ve asked myself the same question and I understand! It feels strange to say that the answer is yes, doesn’t it? Applying the word and living out application also involves learning how to love others with our time and actions. Great post!
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Lovely post, sometimes it’s so hard to get the balance right. Thanks so much for sharing over at #FridayFrivolity. 🙂
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Very well said. It’s important to not only know the Bible but to actually do it!
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That’s a great line. “If reading the Bible keeps us from obeying it…” I have known some people like that who are scholars but not obeyers.
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I see it myself, and it’s rather uninspiring, to say the least. There are too many scholars, (religious and secular) wanting degrees, but no work, or stepping out of the comfort zone. Take care.
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