There’s a reason for everything. There’s a reason for life and everything that happens in life. There’s a reason you’re reading this (article), even as there is a reason it was written. Every one of our actions is motivated. These motives (reasons for acting) determine the approach to the action and affects the outcome; every approach has its result(s).

For example, the most likely reason atheists read the bible is to question its logic, but a Christian will read it to learn its logic. Although these divergent motives seem inconsequential, and the outcome should be the same, there are tested theories in learning and psychodynamic perspectives of psychology that show that cognitive processes such as plans and expectations (motives) affect how we learn, and interpret facts.
There are two reasons why we seek knowledge. We seek knowledge for its sake, or for solving life issues; we can either seek knowledge just to know the truth or so we can apply knowledge to personal or general life issues. These two approaches are the idea behind pure or basic, and applied fields of study. Thus, there’s pure and applied chemistry; pure and applied physics; pure and applied psychology, etc.

Can, these approaches be used to learn the scriptures? Of course, they can be used. People can either read the scriptures with the motive to know the truth or read it just to apply scriptural principles to solving personal issues.

Is this approach dangerous? Yes, it’s. Why is it dangerous? The scriptures are a collection of books written with the help of the Holy Spirit. They contain accounts of certain people’s lives, the principles they applied in certain situations, and the results of these principles. However, more important than these principles, there’s the message of God revealing his Truth.

We can either focus on these principles, or the truth himself. If we read the scriptures to acquire knowledge to solve issues of life (e.g. ailment), this is tantamount to applied knowledge but if we read it just to know the truth, we will gain pure knowledge and understand God.

Life is very turbulent, the government(s) of this world makes it almost impossible for us to attain Rest. We are faced with harsh rules and regulations, and actions every day, and this has caused us to develop a tendency to seek knowledge only as much as it eases our present situation(s). Everything we tend to do, we do with the hope of solving our problem(s), and we will tend to be disinterested in learning whatever does not highlight our problems and proffer solutions.

This need (for solution) becomes our motive for seeking knowledge, and thus might become the reason for our faulty interpretation of the scriptures and blindness to the truth. For example, a poor person will tend to read a verse of the scriptures that talks mention riches than they’d be interested in understanding the laws of faith to obey them. Similarly, a sick rich person will tend to read a verse that mentions healing than they’d be interested in understating the laws of faith.

Their situations will affect how they interpret God’s riches and healing, even so, God’s promises and provisions can only be fulfilled in our lives through obedience to the laws of faith (for the scriptures clarify that God will bring everything he’s pronounced to manifestation only if we diligently obey his word).

However we choose to read it, the scriptures are beneficial, but Rest is attained only from pure knowledge. A person might receive the cure for their ailment or get a better job that solves their financial situation at that time but will not get the freedom that comes with knowing the truth.

IMPACT OF THIS:
Because our mind is not focused on God and because we do not know his truth, we will be deficient of the freedom that characterizes a people with knowledge; we’d remain regulated and limited. This leaves us in a state not distinguishable by the kind of excellence for performance as seen in Christ and described in the apostolic age.

Since our wishes and motives determine the kind of messages that will interest us, this leaves us highly vulnerable to false teachers and prophets who understand our situation and need for solutions and will not hesitate to capitalize on this to prey on our blindness to the truth with common sense and interesting topics and principles which might lead us further away from the truth. If we focus on the principles rather than the truth, our vision will become darker till we become preys that can be led astray by these prophets.

THE FIX:
God wants each one of us to know and understand him accurately. God wants us to reveal his truth to the world and bear his righteousness. God wants us to study his words diligently with the intent to understand him so that we might represent him accurately.

God has provided these principles in his word, but more importantly, he’s also provided himself in his Truth; Jesus Christ. While it’s beneficial to use these principles in times of need, we must dig deep to get to understand God. God has given us understating to attain this knowledge through Christ, therefore, we must give ourselves to know him (1 John 5:20).

As teachers of the word and Christians in general, we must teach pure bible reading rather than applied bible reading; teach God himself instead of what he can provide. We must speak of the person rather than the principles. Biblical principles are effective for as many who apply them irrespective of their faith, but the person is the Lord of those who know him.

For as God left Hezekiah so that he might see what’s in his heart, God (in Christ) has left us too and observes our hearts. Therefore, you and I must behave differently from Hezekiah. We must show forth God rather than what we have through the application of biblical principles. We must recognize that God is our riches and not what he provides. We must grow through diligent study and obedience to boast of God rather than what he provides; person over principle; pure bible reading over applied bible reading.
Thank you for reading

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