Failure to read and apply the Bible causes spiritual wasting disease

Life can get busy, hectic, and chaotic but we always find time to eat, sleep, and play. Why don’t we find time to read and apply the Bible in our daily lives? Failure to read the Bible causes spiritual wasting disease. This gradual deterioration of our spiritual life is characterized by loss of strength, loss of endurance, and a loss of Biblical appetite. Failure to apply Biblical principles makes it worse, until this vicious cycle results in spiritual emaciation and spiritual weakness.

The very first Psalm in the Bible talks about two paths. The blessed path that starts with delight in the law of the Lord. It describes the good things that come from meditating and applying Biblical principles in every-day life. The cursed path starts with failure to read the Bible. It results in a useless life that ends in terrible judgment. Which do you choose?

The second Psalm continues this theme by describing the one difference that makes a difference between blessings on the holy mountain of the King on Zion and the terrifying rebuke against the wicked nations who have brought about their own demise with a failure to read and apply the Bible. That difference is the Messiah who is the subject of every page in the Bible.

The third Psalm gives an answer to the times when there are so many enemies against you, when they say, “God will never rescue you.” Those who indulge in the debilitating disorder of failure to read the Bible cannot know the simple answer, cry out to the LORD, who is a shield around you, who holds your head high, who lets you sleep in peace, and wake up in safety.

Do you see a pattern? No wonder godly people have been comforted by the Psalms for thousands of years. Don’t get trapped by a failure to read.

Blessings from reading and applying the Bible.

There are many essential writings. Each is essential for a particular reason. Some are instructions, others are warnings, some are guidelines and suggestions, others are rules and laws, some are lessons from the past, others are predictions of the future. Failure to read them can cause bad consequences. The importance various depending on the circumstances.

A good example is the little card in the back seat of an airplane, which describes what to do in an emergency. Most people ignore it completely, or briefly glance at it while the flight attendant spouts their spiel. But, in the case of an actual emergency, everybody wishes they had paid more attention. Failure to read what to do means failure to know what to do. This probably results in failure to do what needs to be done. In this case, failure to read can be fatal.

Another example is that the back of a lottery card, which describes how to play the game and how to claim your prize. Many people have lost a fortune from failure to read and apply these instructions. Some people have played the game wrong, which irrevocably invalidated the game card. Some people have failed to claim their prize correctly, which has forfeited their potential winnings. In this case, failure to read can cause incalculable loss.

This is all true of the Bible and ever so much more so. It contains everything we need to know for life’s most amazing successes and life’s most awful disasters. It contains everything we need to handle life’s most unexpected windfalls and most dreaded emergencies. It contains the truth of our past, present, and future. And, it provides a way to change the future. Failure to read can be eternally fatal.

• I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. (Job 23:12 NLT)
• But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2 NLT)
• How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11 ESV)
• As I lie on my bed, I remember you. Through the long hours of the night, I think about you. (Psalm 63:6 GWT)
• Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5 NIV)
• Have pity on me, O Lord, because I call out to you all day long. (Psalm 86:3 GWT)
• And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. (Psalm 35:28 KJV)
• That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. (Psalm 71:8 NLT)
• Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 KJV)
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Cursings from failure to read and apply the Bible

I cannot leave this subject without a final warning against those who fail to read the Bible and fail to apply the Bible. Failure to read is bad enough. But, in my mind, failure to apply what you have read, is inexcusably worse.

Spiritual wasting disease is not caused by lack of spiritual food. You can find a Bible anywhere. And, today, with the internet, I mean actually anywhere. Spiritual wasting disease is caused by failure to read the Bible and failure to apply the Bible.

So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:19-25 WEB)

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27 WEB)

I strongly recommend a daily reading of God’s word. I like to spend a few minutes each morning with my first cup of coffee. I like to use the Bible Gateway Chronological Reading Plan. Each year I choose a different translation for a fresh new perspective. I have never been disappointed. And, if that’s too much a commitment to make, I suggest reading the Gospel according to Mark, which is only about 31 pages. And, if that’s too complicated for you, I suggest starting with the 5 page Letter to the Colossians. The ritual is unimportant. The reading, meditating, praying, and applying are vital.