Here we are again, facing another new year,
and once again we are making “New Year’s resolutions”. In a recent poll, it was
shown that 80% of New Year’s resolutions have to do with dieting. That’s not
really surprising in a nation where that same poll says 70% of Americans are
overweight. There are a lot of different diets a person can go on these days;
low fat, low sugar, low salt, no salt, low calorie, diet with exercise,
exercise only diets, and the list goes on. Of course there are the well known
Jennie Craig, Weight Watchers, Slim fast and gain it back as fast diet…, Curves
for women, and a host of many other “not as famous” diets. However, there is
one diet that I want to talk about today that it seems more and more Christians
are going on these days, and that is a “low Bible diet”. I would suggest to you
today that we all make a New Year’s resolution for 2014 and that is to GET FAT
ON GOD’S WORD! I’m not talking about
sitting around eating Bon-Bons and Crispy Cream doughnuts while we read the Bible;
but that we would get off the low Bible diet and begin to consume more and more
of God’s Word.
If you know about dieting, you have
probably seen and heard about “Anorexia”. It is the result of over-doing or
being obsessed with dieting. The Dictionary describes Anorexia as “an unusual
lack of appetite”. One of the consequences of Anorexia is death; and,
spiritually speaking, there are consequences to a low Bible diet as well.One of the consequences of a low Bible diet is that Bibles begin to disappear. Many people attend Church, Sunday school, and Bible Studies, and don’t bring their Bible. Either they think we are going to teach out of the Sears catalog, or they have a photographic memory and will retain everything they hear! In our scripture, Paul says “All scripture is God breathed and useful for “teaching”. We have a text book that has within its pages “everything we need for life and godliness” and I would suggest that if we are going to get fat on God’s Word, we ought to carry God’s Word with us, and take notes in God’s Word, and highlight God’s Word, and read and meditate on God’s Word!
A second consequence of a low Bible diet is that doctrine begins to disappear and faith becomes weak. Doctrine is like the skeleton or the bones in our bodies…they are the framework that holds our bodies together, and doctrine is the framework of the church. If you are unable to list at least five of the seven basic Biblical doctrines of the Church, it may be the result of a low Bible diet. (Trinity of God in three persons –(1X1X1 = 1) God the Father and Creator – Jesus the Son of God who is the only way of salvation; - born of the virgin Mary,-died on the Cross for the sins of the world,- was buried and rose again,- and will return as victor and judge; The Holy Spirit who is the administer of grace, giver of gifts, and the enabler of believers; - Scriptures as the inerrant and complete Word of God; - God’s purpose for man as found in the “Great Commandment” to “Love the Lord Thy God with all, and to love Thy neighbor as Thyself” - Second coming of Christ and the rapture of the church.)
The third consequence of a low Bible diet is that sin and discontent, dissention, and discouragement will be present in the church. Paul, once again says, “scripture is God breathed and useful for rebuking and correcting”. It would seem Oprah and Dr, Phil have become the prophets and counselors of the day rather than God’s Word. Selfishness rather than the needs of the church as a whole become the dominant factors of decision making.
Fourth, a consequence of a low Bible diet is that false teachers lead many astray. How can you know what is false if you don’t know truth? Satan can and does, cause people on a low Bible diet to believe anything! Simply look what has happened to morals and values in our society. What has happened to respect for authority? What has happened to our nation and yes, even our churches today? “They will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, not lovers of good, but lovers of pleasure rather than God”… These are not my words, they are God’s Word! God would call it a “lack of holiness” and it is a direct result of a low Bible diet.
Finally, Paul says that scripture is useful for “training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The final consequence of all these things is that there is a lack of good works; inside and outside of the church. There comes a lack of enthusiasm and energy and excitement for that which God can do, will do, and is doing!
As we begin the year 2014, let’s resolve to get our focus back on God and spend some time getting fat on His Word!
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