The words and teachings that come out of the Bible are paramount to living the life God desires for all of us. We don't need to add or subtract from God's Word, but only believe and live them out and then we will be where God wants us to be which is consequently what is actually good for us.
But we can fall into "the more the merrier". For some, it's not just convenient but even necessary to add to the Bible. Believers and unfortunately even spiritual leaders are in the process of adding ideas to the Bible as if God's promises and commands are not enough.
Some believers actually believe that these augmentations are biblical but in the end, they only confuse, disappoint and mislead. Here are four sayings that many Christians things are in the Bible, but are actually not.
"God helps those who help themselves."
While it's good to believe that we actually have to work for some things, there are just some things that we will never be able to earn or afford, such as God's grace, favour and redemption. God helps all people and makes His grace available to all. If He didn't then a big chunk of the world would be dead and in hell today because that's what we all deserve.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
"Name it to claim it."
Much of society today has reduced God to a cosmic vending machine. Because earthly possessions and wealth have such a value to so many people in a consumerist society, we believe God's ultimate function is to give us everything we want - the latest gadgets, clothes, property, money and relationships.
God is first and foremost Lord and thus knows what we need and when we need it. He also knows when what we ask for is absurd and only destructive to us. 1 John 5:14 tells us that it is when "we ask anything according to his will" that God hears us.
"Good things come only to those who obey God's commands."
This belief is actually just another derivative of statement one. So many Christians believe that it's only when we pass the mark that we receive God's blessing. But Matthew 5:45 says, "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
While God's saving grace is made available only to those who believe, there is also common grace which allows all people - Christian, non-Christian, sinner or saint - to experience God's abundant provision.
"God will make all your problems go away."
God never promises us a storm-free life, but actually says we will still experience trial even in belief. In John 16:33, Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Trials will still be there even if you're a Christian, but God will give us grace to face them with His strength and sustenance.
