How can we avoid "adding to His words" in our daily lives? Setting the Stage “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be proved a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6) The warning is clear and direct: Scripture is complete, sufficient, and accurate; tinkering with it never ends well. The lifelong challenge is translating that truth into our everyday conversations, decisions, and ministries. Understanding the Warning (Proverbs 30:6) • The command is negative (“Do not add”) because God’s revelation is already perfect (Psalm 18:30). • The consequence is personal—“lest He rebuke you”—showing God Himself guards His Word. • The charge of being “proved a liar” highlights the seriousness of misrepresenting divine truth (see 1 Samuel 15:29). Why We Are Tempted to Add • Desire to make a passage “fit” modern sensibilities. • Pressure to resolve every mystery instead of living with reverent humility (Deuteronomy 29:29). • Elevating personal experience or tradition above the text (Matthew 15:9). • Fear that the plain words of Scripture might offend (Galatians 1:10). Practical Steps to Avoid Adding to His Words 1. Anchor in the whole counsel of God • Compare Scripture with Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Refuse to build doctrines on isolated verses. 2. Let the text speak first • Read in context—immediate paragraph, book theme, and overall redemptive storyline. • Define words the way the Bible uses them, not current culture. 3. Submit personal impressions to Scripture • Feelings, dreams, and “promptings” must be tested (1 John 4:1). • If an impression cannot be squared with clear teaching, discard the impression. 4. Guard everyday speech • Avoid phrases like “God told me” unless quoting chapter and verse. • Speak where Scripture speaks; remain silent where it is silent (1 Corinthians 4:6). 5. Prioritize faithful exposition • When teaching, aim for “what it meant then” before “what it means now.” • Use cross-references—Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19 repeat the same prohibition. 6. Cultivate theological accountability • Welcome correction from mature believers who love the Word. • Use historic creeds and confessions as guardrails, not replacements for Scripture. 7. Saturate life with the written Word • Memorize passages (Psalm 119:11). • Meditate daily, allowing Scripture to interpret life rather than life to interpret Scripture. Scripture as the Final Authority “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Because every word is breathed out by God, every word carries God’s authority. Anything added—no matter how well-intended—competes with that authority and must be rejected. Living Out a Pure Word Today • In conversations: cite Scripture accurately, resisting embellishment. • On social media: verify references before posting; avoid sensational “Christian” claims without Scriptural backing. • In decision-making: seek biblical principles, not mystical add-ons. • In worship: sing lyrics that reflect Scriptural truth; question songs that introduce unbiblical ideas. Encouragement for the Journey The Lord who commands us not to add to His words also empowers us to keep them. As we cling to the pure, unaltered Scriptures, we find wisdom, stability, and a testimony that points others to the sufficiency of God’s flawless Word (Psalm 12:6; John 17:17). |
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