Christians can have Bible anorexia. I attended a women’s Bible study that had a workbook with quite a bit of homework in it. We would do the homework and then meet together to talk about it. One friend told me she was frustrated with the study. My friend replied, “I like coming to Bible study, being with other women, and opening my Bible. But then I like to shut my Bible and go home.”

Our souls can starve, just like our bodies. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Our souls require regular meals from the Scriptures. And notice the word “every” in Matthew 4:4. We need all of God’s Word to keep us healthy, not just verses here and there. A. W. Tozer was right: “Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”

I had a friend in high school named Julie who had anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is a disease that ravages some women, causing extreme weight loss from a refusal to eat. This leads to abnormal blood counts, fatigue, thinning hair, irregular heart rhythms, and low blood pressure. The scary thing is that girls and women with anorexia can’t see how thin they are. When they look in the mirror, they don’t notice the bones protruding. In fact, they may even think they see fat.

Christians can have Bible anorexia. I attended a women’s Bible study that had a workbook with quite a bit of homework in it. We would do the homework and then meet together to talk about it. One friend told me she was frustrated with the study. My friend replied, “I like coming to Bible study, being with other women, and opening my Bible. But then I like to shut my Bible and go home.”

This woman was busy with much serving in the church. She was part of the music team and helped in the children’s ministry, but she didn’t realize she needed the Scriptures for regular and personal spiritual nourishment at home. To her, Bibles were for church meetings. She thought a meal here and there would sustain her. She was unhappy in life and couldn’t see that she was thinning out spiritually, even in the midst of all her serving. She had Bible anorexia.

Fuel for the Soul

God calls his Word bread, milk and honey. He has graciously given it to us to keep us alive and enable growth. Second Peter 1:3 says, “[God’s] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” Notice that God’s divine power works through knowledge of Christ. This is why the Bible is the main course on our spiritual menu.

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