“Cleanliness is next to Godliness. It’s in the Bible!” You may have heard this phrase and others like it over the years. It’s not uncommon for well-meaning Christians to give advice to others around then by citing “verses” that aren’t actually Bible verses at all. In most cases, the people who throw these old adages around and mislabel them as Scripture have the best of intentions. However, it’s important that Christians know what is in the Bible and what isn’t.
In some cases, these traditional sayings that have been labeled as the Gospel truth aren’t harmful. However, there are some instances where a misconstrued statement that is labeled as Scripture can do serious damage. Let’s take a look at some of these “Bible verses” that aren’t actually Bible verses at all. Once we understand the truth behind these errant “scriptures,” it’s easy for us to approach them from a place of Scriptural truth.
“Money is the Root of All Evil”
For years, people have used this statement as a means of saying that God is anti-money. When we paint the picture that money itself is the source of all the evil in the world, we can get an incorrect picture of how God feels about His people being ambitious in their careers. Unlike some of the other fake verses we’re going to discuss, this one doesn’t come from an old saying. Its origins are actually found in a Bible verse that we have tweaked over the years.
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Paul doesn’t say that money itself is the root of all evil. Instead, he says that the “love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Because of a love or obsession with getting more, some people have wandered away from the faith, driven by their craving for more, creating more issues for themselves and others around them.
God is not against His people making money. God isn’t even against His people being financially successful and advancing in their career field. God’s Word warns that we shouldn’t be driven by an obsession with making more money at the expense of how we treat other people. We’re also not supposed to be so focused on making money that we fail to devote time to God through worship, prayer and Bible study. Money isn’t sinful. The quest for more money only becomes sinful when we fail to keep it in its proper place.
“God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”
Earlier, we discussed how some of these non-Biblical statements can actually be dangerous. This is one such example. You may have heard this verse from a well-meaning Christian who was attempting to motivate you to “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” and make something happen in your own life. However, there is nowhere in Scripture that says God is withholding His help from those who aren’t willing to help themselves.
The concept of self-reliance is prevalent in our modern culture. There are countless self help books on the market that help people tap into their potential and tell them that they should make all of their own dreams a reality. While there is nothing wrong with hard work, commitment to your goals and taking a Godly approach to obstacles that are standing in your way, God never tells His people to be completely reliant on themselves.
Psalm 124:1-3 (ESV)
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side-let Israel now say-if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us.
In Psalm 124, David pointed to Israel’s total reliance on the Lord. In fact, he said twice in two verses that if the Lord hadn’t been on Israel’s side, they would have been defeated. David didn’t say that Israel’s assistance from God came from the fact that they tried to do it their own way first. Instead, the Lord was on Israel’s side and did what they couldn’t.
God is not looking for us to rely on our own power. Instead, He wants us to cast all of our anxieties on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
“The Lord Won’t Put More on You than You Can Bear”
Finally, this statement is a rare example of one of those non-Biblical verses that is both derived from Scripture and is dangerous to believe. First, let’s look at the verse where this statement is derived from.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
First of all, in these verses, Paul is talking about temptation to sin. He isn’t discussing the trials and tribulations that are a part of life. Instead, he is discussing the fact that all of us are tempted. While it’s scary to acknowledge, the fact remains that Satan knows your weak spots. He is aware of what temptations you are most susceptible to. However, Scripture teaches us that even when we are tempted, God will provide us with a way to get away from that temptation.
However, this verse never says that God won’t let us go through more than we are capable of handling. Do you remember what we just discussed about self-reliance? It’s not a Godly concept at all. God does allow us to face things that we can’t handle on our own. David couldn’t have killed Goliath on his own. Daniel couldn’t survive a night in a den of hungry lions. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego couldn’t have endured the fiery furnace. God let them face things that were more than they could handle on their own. Why? So they could fully rely on Him and His power could be on display in their lives.
Some of the things that we face are too hard for us, and that’s okay. When we are faced with something too hard, God will intervene and handle it for us. The things that are too hard for us are fully under His control.
A Closing Prayer:
God, thank You for the truth of Your Word. I’m asking that You encourage me to have a hunger and a thirst for the truth of the Bible so I can know what it actually says. Instead of falling into the trap of self-reliance, give me the strength to lay my cares, anxieties and worries at Your feet. Help me to be mindful of You when I am working to advance my career. I ask all of these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.