When You Shouldn't Read The Bible

1. Don’t read it if – YOUR READING TO PROVE SOMEONE ELSE WRONG

If your motivation for reading the Bible is to throw around arguments or engage in some narcissistic battle of the brains, clearly you’ve missed the whole point of these past posts. Jesus taught and demonstrated love and humility in all things. Pride will almost always damage your ability to hear from God rightly. God intends to win hearts, not arguments… walk in humility.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6


2. Don’t read it if – YOU’RE SOLELY TRYING TO EARN ‘GOD POINTS’

If you’re reading your Bible to fill your daily quota of ‘God To Do’s’, just stop now. God doesn’t love you anymore because you’ve read your five chapters today. God already loves you COMPLETELY… that means His love for you is FULL, not lacking. Your Bible reading does not add to your righteousness, Jesus is your righteousness. Read to grow in your love for Him, not out of duty or obligation.

3. Don’t read it if – YOU PLAN TO INTERPRET IT TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE

God is God, you are not. Now that we have that out of the way remember God’s plan for you is better than your own. Before you have a relationship with God you may not understand why God restricts or commands certain things. Though it may be tempting to get out your back highlighter or edit God’s words, they are there for a reason. It is important to read scripture in it’s full context and entirety.

4. Don’t read it if –  YOU’RE NOT PLANNING TO PRAY AS WELL

The truth of the matter is that the Bible is not just a normal book, it is a spiritual book. When I first began reading the Bible, it made no sense to me. I would re-read the same sentence for 20 minutes before falling asleep (I exaggerate not). When I prayed and asked for God’s help to read, it’s like the words became illuminated and alive to me. It’s not hocus-pocus… It’s God’s Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3 tells us that no one can even say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Jesus prays for all people asking God to give us ‘ears to hear.’

Some of us may have deaf ears without even knowing. Ask God to open your spiritual ears, He will if you want Him to! A good translation can also be a great help in understanding. I recommend the NIV or NLT to start. If you don’t have a Bible, let us know! At Victory Outreach we are committed to freely-sharing the Good News, whatever the cost may be! We've got you covered!