The Excuses We Make Not to Read the Bible
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Do you read the Bible? If the answer is yes, then I commend you. If not, then I want to ask why you don’t. If prayer is our way of talking to God, then certainly, reading Scripture is one way He talks to us. The Bible is how we learn God’s tenets and personality. Reading is also how we come to understand Jesus Christ's personhood and the magnitude of what He did for humanity.
There’s so much to gain from reading, and yet, so many of us who call ourselves believers don’t actually read. We show up on Sundays and have someone read to us, but that is largely the extent of our engagement. Then, when someone asks us a random question about Scripture, we don’t know the answer. Maybe we have some inkling of an idea, but we don’t know for sure. If we provide an answer, we do so without confidence.
Despite the fact that we could be developing our faith, wisdom, hope, and more, why don’t we read on the daily? The excuses look something like:
- “I’m too busy.”
- “I will eventually”
- “I probably should.”
- “I don’t understand it.”
- “I don’t know.”
As Christians, we give ourselves a major disadvantage in living out the faith when we do not read. Wisdom that could be useful in making a decision is absent. Knowledge of God’s promises which could keep us from despair is the same.
I certainly have not always been into reading the Bible. There were times I found the text boring and even irrelevant to my life. Only after deepening my faith and continuing to read did my perspective change. The excuses stopped. I realized that I was not reading for entertainment but for spiritual growth. Once my perspective changed, I enjoyed reading more and haven’t looked back since. However, to get there, first, I had to confront those excuses. Then, I had to make a plan for new habits.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
If you want to cut your own excuses and start diving into God’s Word, here are some steps you can take.
Know Your Why
If we are to find motivation to do anything, we need to have a reason why. People go to the gym to get fit. People eat to satisfy their hunger. Figure out why you should read Scripture. There’s certainly more than one reason!
Set a Time to Read
Next, make sure you set a designated time to engage with God’s Word. This will make the act of reading a habit, and not a one-and-done sort of thing. Some people read in the morning and meditate throughout the day, and others read at night so that they can end the day with thoughts of the Lord.
Read Something Interesting
As you try to make reading Scripture a habit, have in mind the kind of story that would resonate with you. Do you gravitate toward devotionals that explore specific concepts like wisdom or faith or grief, or do you resonate more with character analysis devotionals that explore people like David or Paul? Perhaps, you just want to dive into God’s Word outside of any devotional and just start reading. Whatever the case, start with something that interests you to ensure you stick to the habit.
Once you read about things that are interesting and relatable, you will eventually find yourself reading topics outside of the norm. You’ll grow in your appreciation of Scripture and the results will show in your wisdom, faith, relationships, and more.
Find Accountability
Reading on your own can be difficult if you lack self-discipline. Thankfully, what we lack in ourselves can be alleviated by relying on those around us. Talk to your small group or a trusted person and let them know about your plans to read more. Accountability will keep you on task and could even turn into you reading the Bible with someone else.
Establish a Routine
Once you have established a plan, stick to it. Make your plan a natural rhythm that repeats day after day. The more we read the Bible, the richer our faith becomes. We start to see God, others, and even ourselves in an entirely new way.
Some days, you may not want to continue the routine, but once you start to see the positive effects, remind yourself of how far you have come. Then, remind yourself of your why so that you know where you want to go next.
Further Reading:
Psalm 119:105
Hebrews 4:12
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Prisci
Get in touch at aarondanthony.com and check out his short story “Serenity.”
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