Are you like me? Do you find living in THIS world so confusing?! Sitting is the New Smoking? 50 is the new 30 (uh…I highly doubt that!). And then there’s the concept of a “humble brag” – how can something be both humble and a brag at the same time? Not sure that’s even possible.
I certainly can’t explain any of the above, but when it comes to more serious matters, confusion is part of the Enemy’s plan. When good is labeled as bad and bad as good (Isaiah 5:20-21), it can take a minute (or more!) to untangle the lies of the Enemy and separate them from the truth. He likes to tangle the two. Mixing a little bit of truth with a whole lotta lies to make the lie sound right, believable…possibly good. And he will even use scripture if it serves his purpose. The Devil knows Scripture? You bet he does! He also knows how to use it to trip us up and confuse us. But he doesn’t use scripture rightly, and in the manner God intended. He doesn’t use verses in their fullness and takes them out of context.
To some degree or another, we can make the Bible say all kinds of things it doesn’t say (or mean) when we take it out of context or don’t let scripture interpret scripture. God rarely says something only once and leaves us to our own devices to “figure it out!” Good luck with that! No, He gives us ample scriptures that will help us to understand the context and framing of why the thing is said. Let me give you some examples of what I’ve heard to explain:
–With God all things are possible. – Ref: Matthew 19:26 NIV – I’ve heard this used in regard to the New Age idea of manifesting. I don’t believe we can create everything we want. If this were true wouldn’t everyone have a live-in chef to do ALL the cooking for their family?? Or…is that just me?! 😉 But that’s just not how the world works. Nor is it how things function in the Kingdom of God. The Bible says it’s God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), but the idea is the He gives, not we create. We just aren’t that powerful.
And that is not what this scripture is all about anyway. What Jesus was talking about in this passage is salvation. He was answering a question from the rich young ruler, about who is able to be saved. So context is very important.
–Money is the root of all evil. – Ref: 1 Timothy 6:10 ESV – “For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” This one seems self-explanatory, you leave one crucial word out (in this case Love) and the meaning changes. But without it you could build a whole doctrine around how being poor is holy. Of course, if you are poor you can be holy, but owning nothing doesn’t necessarily make you holy.
–I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Ref: Phil 4:13 NKJV – Although this scripture is often associated with strength and physical endurance, (and it’s certainly cool to see it shared by athletes on their Insta page), its true meaning lies elsewhere.
The verse’s actual context revolves around the idea of contentment, regardless of our circumstances, whether having a little or a lot. The verses immediately preceding it highlight this: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Therefore, the meaning of the scripture “I can do all things…” as Paul intended, is rooted in the understanding that his contentment and his ability to face all situations comes from Christ’s strength working in us.
–God will never give you more than you can handle – Not exactly in the Bible. Likely people are referencing 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV – The actual verse says: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
To explain it more eloquently, let me quote Caroline Albanese from her Gospel Coalition article from 2022: “Notice that in the face of temptation, God is the one providing the rescue…He’s with us in the valley, leading and shepherding us. He’s with us in the fire, keeping us from being burned and enabling us every step of the way…We can’t handle it. But he can.” *
God is not expecting us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and do it on our own. He has promised time and again to be with us in our struggles and to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Psalms 139:7-10)
And finally…
–God helps those who help themselves – I can’t give you a scripture reference because this is NOT in the Bible. Honestly, I don’t really understand what it means anyhow because God wants us to come to Him for help. He tells us in Hebrews 4:16 to come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain help in time of need.
This one sounds like it is probably intended to get someone’s rear in gear…but that’s just my take.
As you can see, a great deal of confusion can be introduced by a simple misunderstanding or misapplying of scripture. Or by only getting a little bit of truth. We can avoid these traps if we simply commit ourselves to reading and studying scripture. That doesn’t mean we have to study for 5 hours a day. Heck, if we could commit to 1 hour a week, we’d be doing great! However, if even that’s too much to manage here’s an approach that works for me:
First thing when I get up every morning, I spend time with God. I read at least one scripture every day, and if that one or another scripture jumps out at me, I personally take 5 minutes and go and study the meaning of that scripture through commentary, possibly looking up the original meaning in the Greek etc. I have included some great, solid resources for studying scripture with commentaries below. In this way I am really considering the verse, learning about it, along with turning it over in my mind and meditating on it during the day. And I will walk away with more understanding of scripture than I had when I first woke up. Apart from learning when we hear sermons in church, do a Bible Study etc, it’s an easy, doable way to study some scripture every day.
Satan gives us a little bit of truth and with a whole lot of lies to make it sound right, but that’s why we need the Holy Spirit to help open our eyes to the truth in God’s Word. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Rightly handling the word of truth.
Rightly handling…wow. Let me be someone who doesn’t mishandle God’s sacred Word. Let me not misunderstand or misapply it. Let me not use it to hurt others. Let me not water it down to fit it to my own understanding or experiences.
Let me instead read it, apply context to it, and understand it by the power of the Holy Spirit. And let me be able to use it to help bring healing and life to others who need it, at the time they need it. I hope this is your prayer too today. Let’s work hard together to study His Word and share it as it was meant to be shared with others.
God bless you as you do that today,
Pam
Scripture references:
-Isaiah 5:20-21
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”
-1 Timothy 6:17
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
-Deuteronomy 31:8
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
-Joshua 1:5 ESV
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
-Psalm 139:7-10 NLT
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”
* https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/god-give-can-handle/
Resources for studying scripture:
#truth #truthvslies #truthandlies #truthbetold #godstruth
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