Add Not

Proverbs 30:6 (KJV) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

I occasionally get the opportunity to preach.  Sometimes I am asked to fill in a Sunday school class and I get to teach.  This verse points out a hard line to walk and yet it must be done.  The challenge in communicating truth is to open up what God says without adding your own personal opinions.

There are times when I’m not sure that is possible.

At the same time it is necessary.  How do I go about this?  One thing I do is constantly question myself to ask if this my opinion or is just accurately stating what God has for us?  The only way to really discern that is by careful study of the scripture and comparing what you’re looking at with what it says in other places.  The knowledge that has accumulated over the years of study is one reason why older people have the potential of being better teachers.  It doesn’t always work out.  We tend to be human and like our own opinions, but the longer you read the scripture the better chance you have for feeling the totality of scripture.

So?  Now is a good time to get started.  A new year starts very soon.  Make it a commitment to keep reading the scripture.  Keep thinking about what you’ve read.  Compare different spots.  Work out what seem to be inconsistencies.  But be careful not to add beyond what God has given us.  Happy new year.