“I am not suggesting that we dispense with reading anything but the Bible.  However, I am suggesting that we have a propensity for looking everywhere but the Bible for help.  In other words, we read something in the Bible and we think, “I wonder what book I can read to help me with this or that?”

Many years ago, my two friends and I developed an interest in rock climbing.  We lived in an area where you could do a lot of top roping.  We would walk into the woods and find a rock face.  Someone would unpack the gear and tie off the rope and then we would rappel to the bottom. Being inexperienced and a bit apprehensive, it didn’t take long for us to develop an important rule: “He who ties the knot goes first!”

On one of our outings, two of us decided to wait at the bottom of the cliff while our friend hiked to the top in order to tie off the rope and then rappel down. We waited below for quite some time but he never threw the rope over the edge. In fact, we didn’t see or hear anything coming from above. Finally, curiosity got the best of us and we hiked up to investigate.  When we finally reached the top, his back was to us and he was sitting cross-legged.  He didn’t even hear us approach.  When I got close, I peered around to see what he was doing.  To my absolute astonishment, I discovered him reading a book on how to tie knots! He looked up rather sheepishly and said, “I was starting to doubt myself.”

As I thought about the phrase sola Scriptura, I thought of this story. I thought of it because many believers are like my friend.  They are unsure of themselves.  They are filled with self-doubt.  As a result, the self-help section of the bookstore strains under the weight of numerous titles. Now, let me be clear.  I am not suggesting that we dispense with reading anything but the Bible.  However, I am suggesting that we have a propensity for looking everywhere but the Bible for help.  In other words, we read something in the Bible and we think, “I wonder what book I can read to help me with this or that?”  Let me suggest an alternative practice.  Let us look to the Bible as a sufficient help for faith and life.  In fact, Paul tells us four things in II Timothy 3:16 that will help us in that direction.

First, Paul says that the Bible is profitable for teaching. What exactly is the didactic aim of Scriptural teaching? It’s simple. God’s word teaches us to think God’s thoughts after Him. Why is that so important?  It is important because, as God says to his people through the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” And later, “So the people without understanding are ruined.” In other words, Scripture is profitable for teaching the knowledge of God.  As Paul says in Romans 6:17, there is a form of teaching, which must be known by all God’s people because a lack thereof will bring ruin upon God’s people.

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