Verse Abuse

It's been around for centuries.  Sometimes it's unintentional or not having a full understanding.  Other times it's with full understanding -- like when Satan used Scripture to try to manipulate Jesus.  And he's still using Scripture to manipulate us today.  I know he's tried to (and sometime succeeded in) use verses against me and convince me of something that isn't true.  Or take a general Biblical concept and twist it to mean more or less than God actually intends.  Like the idea of God being able to meet all your needs turning into, "Get all you need from God," which, by extension, means you don't need people and can live without them.

Sometimes people speak verses to us when they don't apply -- it doesn't fit the context of our current life situation or is somehow misapplied.  I've seen this with the Proverbs 11 verse that says, "those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  Sounds pretty good.  There's certainly a measure of truth to that.  But I've heard this stated to small group leaders when they were tired -- people who were already giving of their time and energy trying to "refresh" or meet the needs of others.  If God isn't in our service of others, and particularly if He's actually saying, "REST," going out and working hard to serve more and better will not bring refreshment.  I'm pretty sure it will do the opposite, in fact.

And then the oft used line, "God will never give you more than you can handle."  The incorrect application of this verse was actually mentioned in church last week, again this week, and a coworker just mentioned it concerning the various circumstances in her life.  This idea is from a verse in 1 Corinthians 10, and has transformed a bit from the verse in the Bible, dropping the concept of being tempted and replacing it with a general idea of life dealings.  The verse actually reads, "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear," and the preceding sentences are addressing temptation.  The verse really has nothing to do with cars breaking down, family members being sick or in the hospital, dealing with cancer, finances, job loss, stress.  It's about temptation.  And even then, it's not, "God won't let you be tempted more than you can handle -- you got this!"  The rest of the verse says, "He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."  The way of handling it?  Knowing God's exit plan.

As for dealing with life events... I'm just gonna be real.  Life is more than you can handle.  Well, it's at least more than *I* can handle.  This was the verse brought up today: "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life."  It goes on to say that it's only God who could deliver them, they will continue to put their hope and trust in God to continually deliver them (WHAT?!  We're not just delivered once and for all and may need to be rescued again??!), as people continue to pray for their deliverance.  Sounds like we can't handle life without God and a small army of praying saints.

I thought I was supposed to be able to handle moving, but I couldn't handle moving to Michigan on my own.  I needed help moving.  I needed to hear from family and friends.  I needed time to adjust.  I needed new friends.  I probably needed to go home more.  And I probably needed to be visited more.  I may have needed more prayer.  I certainly needed more wisdom and insight.  And needed to fall head-long into the hope of Jesus delivering me.  Again.