When Reading the Bible is a Waste of Time
I began regularly teaching the Bible four years ago at Jubilee Church St. Louis. And since then, there are several verses that sober me if not haunt me. Such as…
- James 3:1, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur stricter judgment.”
- Mark 9:42, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
These verses (along with many others) are strong warnings to be keep my teaching Biblical and about Jesus, but none more haunting for me than John 5:38-40, Jesus addressed the Pharisees (who had the OT memorized) by saying,
“38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
As one who studies and teaches the Bible, these verses are especially sobering because they say that it is possible to read the Bible and do so in vain. When might our study of Scripture be in vain? When we make Scripture an end itself and fail to see Jesus as the trajectory of any text that we are reading, studying or preaching.
Life and ultimate truth is not found in the study of Scripture if it doesn’t lead us to Jesus. When Jesus is taken out of the equation, reading the Bible is a waste of time at best and can even become an idol (something we value over God).
How Can we Then Make the Most of Reading the Bible?
I think Luke 24:44-45 gives us the best answer, “Now He said to them (the disciples), ‘these are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Bottom line to getting the most out reading the Bible is to have Jesus Himself open our minds to understand the Scriptures and show us that they are really about Him. Having the best study tools won’t help you if Jesus doesn’t “open your mind”. Without Jesus, reading Scripture is as helpful as turning on the lights for a blind man. For sight to occur you need both light (external) and a good eye (internal). To understand Scripture you need to actually read it (external). However, reading it isn’t enough. Jesus needs to open your mind (internal). Otherwise, you get caught up in the same game the Pharisees did called religion, legalism and idolatry. Therefore, pray before your read. Pray that He will open your mind to true understanding.