18. There may be times when it is best not to practice regular Bible reading.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
Do you sometimes read your Bible to make yourself feel good?
Do you ever feel guilty for not reading your Bible?
Do you try to read the whole Bible each year?
Do you think there might circumstances when it might be good not to read your Bible?
This statement, that at certain times it might be appropriate to dispense with regular Bible reading, rightfully deserves to be scrutinized, explained, and disclaimed. Obviously, after all that has been already said about the importance of the Bible, we are not saying that we should not read our Bibles and that regular Scripture reading is not important. However, when a person reads their Bible regularly and faithfully and because of this in some way feels or believes that God likes them better, this becomes an issue.
The truth is that God likes us no matter what, and He loves us unconditionally. We know this in our heads, but we are prone to act as though our devotional acts toward God work to cause Him to approve of us. Though we may not intend it, what we are really doing is trying to manipulate God and to earn His approval. If we are not aware of this and fail to take steps to correct our motives, we are in danger of falling into an outward religion instead of a relationship of the heart. Jesus addresses this when He says But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ (Matthew 9:13, NIV). Jesus is quoting Hosea 6:6 which Eugene Peterson translates as, I’m after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings (The Message).
If we think that we may fall into this situation, a way to test our motives and possible purify them is to take a break from reading our Bibles. It is said that it takes 30 days to develop a habit so perhaps taking a month-long break from an unhealthy motive for reading our Bibles could help break that habit. We will know if it is unhealthy by how we feel during the break. If we have feelings of guilt, a fear that we are failing God, or a compulsion to reengage, it may indicate that we have been engaging with unhealthy motives. On the other hand, if we experience a longing, a desire to reconnect as with a spouse or friend that has been absent for some time, we may know that our practice and our desires are normal for a healthy relationship.
This is not to suggest that we should take a break from all our spiritual practices during this time. In fact, it may be an opportunity to try new practices during the time that we normally spend reading Scripture, such as meditating on passages we have already memorized, or praying for people, places, and projects the Spirit invites us into.
Regular Bible reading is wonderful practice that can bring the joy of deeper relationship between us and God and is certainly worth the effort. But we need to be aware of any tendency to prioritize the practice at the expense of the relationship and take steps to avoid this.