I read a quote from a pastor that said, "If you want to grow your trust in God, you need to grow in your knowledge of God."
Many of us want to be diligent in our walk with the Lord, yet most of us don't put forth the effort to sit still and soak in God's Word, letting it bask in our minds and cleanse our hearts. Instead, we come up with all kinds of excuses not to read and study our Bibles. Here are the most common ones that I've heard:
1. "I don't know where to start." The Bible is a collection of many books into one, written by various authors in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Translated and distributed worldwide and categorized by genres of literature. Many scholars debate on where to start, but it's really up to you. Everyone has their own preference. Whether it's reading from cover to cover, chronologically, or the gospels, etc. it doesn't matter. The Holy Word is divinely inspired, so it won't return void(Isaiah 55:11). So don't waste time mulling over your options and just start!
2. "I don't have the time." But you have time to browse on Pinterest, update your Facebook or Twitter status, watch back to back episodes or reruns on Netflix, stalk someone's Instagram, gossip, the list could go on. I think a priority check needs to be in order. As well as time management. If you're going to say that you're unable to "make" time for God, stop right there. You may want to consider how you're phrasing that. Wouldn't saying that be an insult to the One who literally invented time? It really sounds like you're saying that your time is more important than His. Yeeah....
3. "I don't have the money to spend on commentaries, Bible dictionaries, study guides, and concordances like my pastor has in his library." Whoever said you had to buy them? I mean, it's not like there's FREE resources available to choose from.
Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages
Read and Study the Bible Online - Search, Find Verses
https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Free Bible Commentaries and Bible Study Tools
https://www.gotquestions.org/
Welcome | Precept Austin
https://www.studylight.org/
4. "I don't feel like it." Why? Is it because deep down, you know the Bible really isn't easy and fun to read, when it's full of truths that's not designed to make you feel comfortable and well-liked? Think some of the greatest disciples throughout history didn't have these dilemmas? THINK AGAIN. They faced all kinds of discomfort, rejection, and ridicule. I'm sure they had their moments where they didn't want to spend time with God AT ALL. But if they had chosen to rely on their feelings, they wouldn't have been a huge impact in people's lives. So why should we?
5. "I get distracted and bored easily." Distractions will occur and there will be times when reading the Bible feels like a chore. You may get a call about grandma being sick at a hospital or a neighbor might drop by unexpectedly, asking you to babysit their kids at the last minute. I'm not saying you should hang up the phone or turn down your neighbor's request. If such situations or similar do occur, consider bringing God's Word with you by hand or on your phone while you're in the waiting room, or when the kids are asleep or occupied. Make a note on your phone with an alarm or sticky notes to remind you to get in His Word. Don't say you "forgot" when you chose not to be proactive....
As for boredom, spending time with God should be a privilege, not an obligation. When you're busy getting to know Him more, loving Him, and serving Him genuinely and wholeheartedly, I guarantee the word "boredom" won't exist in your vocabulary.
Now at the end of the day, these excuses may seem plausible at first glance, but in all honesty they're not. If you know you need to spend more time in God's Word, but you don't, no matter how often you say you want to, you really don't want to. All these excuses that you use to shield your laziness, apathy, and complacency stem from your lack of desire.
Wanting to spend time in the Word and actually spending time in the Word are totally different. You either want more of God or you don't. There is no middle ground. (Revelation 3:16) It all comes down to desire and how strong that desire is. And the proof lies within your daily obedience and fruit produced through your actions and words. Words must be consistent with action. Without action, it's meaningless. People do notice a difference in a person who maintains an active and vibrant walk with God. Do people see that in you?
My challenge for you and myself is to really examine our motives for not getting in God's Word. John 14:21 makes it clear that if we love God, we'll do what He says. It's not an option, it's a command. When we don't however, there's something wrong(1 John 2:4). I understand that as humans, we're imperfect and we will make mistakes. But are you going to use that as an excuse too? Or will you own responsibility?
"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."-Psalm 119:15-16
Many of us want to be diligent in our walk with the Lord, yet most of us don't put forth the effort to sit still and soak in God's Word, letting it bask in our minds and cleanse our hearts. Instead, we come up with all kinds of excuses not to read and study our Bibles. Here are the most common ones that I've heard:
1. "I don't know where to start." The Bible is a collection of many books into one, written by various authors in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Translated and distributed worldwide and categorized by genres of literature. Many scholars debate on where to start, but it's really up to you. Everyone has their own preference. Whether it's reading from cover to cover, chronologically, or the gospels, etc. it doesn't matter. The Holy Word is divinely inspired, so it won't return void(Isaiah 55:11). So don't waste time mulling over your options and just start!
2. "I don't have the time." But you have time to browse on Pinterest, update your Facebook or Twitter status, watch back to back episodes or reruns on Netflix, stalk someone's Instagram, gossip, the list could go on. I think a priority check needs to be in order. As well as time management. If you're going to say that you're unable to "make" time for God, stop right there. You may want to consider how you're phrasing that. Wouldn't saying that be an insult to the One who literally invented time? It really sounds like you're saying that your time is more important than His. Yeeah....
3. "I don't have the money to spend on commentaries, Bible dictionaries, study guides, and concordances like my pastor has in his library." Whoever said you had to buy them? I mean, it's not like there's FREE resources available to choose from.
Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages
Read and Study the Bible Online - Search, Find Verses
https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Free Bible Commentaries and Bible Study Tools
https://www.gotquestions.org/
Welcome | Precept Austin
https://www.studylight.org/
4. "I don't feel like it." Why? Is it because deep down, you know the Bible really isn't easy and fun to read, when it's full of truths that's not designed to make you feel comfortable and well-liked? Think some of the greatest disciples throughout history didn't have these dilemmas? THINK AGAIN. They faced all kinds of discomfort, rejection, and ridicule. I'm sure they had their moments where they didn't want to spend time with God AT ALL. But if they had chosen to rely on their feelings, they wouldn't have been a huge impact in people's lives. So why should we?
5. "I get distracted and bored easily." Distractions will occur and there will be times when reading the Bible feels like a chore. You may get a call about grandma being sick at a hospital or a neighbor might drop by unexpectedly, asking you to babysit their kids at the last minute. I'm not saying you should hang up the phone or turn down your neighbor's request. If such situations or similar do occur, consider bringing God's Word with you by hand or on your phone while you're in the waiting room, or when the kids are asleep or occupied. Make a note on your phone with an alarm or sticky notes to remind you to get in His Word. Don't say you "forgot" when you chose not to be proactive....
As for boredom, spending time with God should be a privilege, not an obligation. When you're busy getting to know Him more, loving Him, and serving Him genuinely and wholeheartedly, I guarantee the word "boredom" won't exist in your vocabulary.
Now at the end of the day, these excuses may seem plausible at first glance, but in all honesty they're not. If you know you need to spend more time in God's Word, but you don't, no matter how often you say you want to, you really don't want to. All these excuses that you use to shield your laziness, apathy, and complacency stem from your lack of desire.
Wanting to spend time in the Word and actually spending time in the Word are totally different. You either want more of God or you don't. There is no middle ground. (Revelation 3:16) It all comes down to desire and how strong that desire is. And the proof lies within your daily obedience and fruit produced through your actions and words. Words must be consistent with action. Without action, it's meaningless. People do notice a difference in a person who maintains an active and vibrant walk with God. Do people see that in you?
My challenge for you and myself is to really examine our motives for not getting in God's Word. John 14:21 makes it clear that if we love God, we'll do what He says. It's not an option, it's a command. When we don't however, there's something wrong(1 John 2:4). I understand that as humans, we're imperfect and we will make mistakes. But are you going to use that as an excuse too? Or will you own responsibility?
"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."-Psalm 119:15-16
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