A dentist once gave this advice regarding oral hygiene. “Some toothpastes are better than others, but the most important thing is that you brush. Most of the good comes from the brushing itself. Even brushing with a wet toothbrush with no toothpaste will do a lot of good.” He then added, “And rinsing after brushing is also very important. When we brush our teeth, the bacteria that cause decay are loosened from the teeth and gums. But if we do not rinse after brushing, the bacteria reattach themselves. We must rinse them out of the mouth to complete the benefit.”
Surely this has a spiritual parallel.
We are often looking for the very best Bible study methods. We also want to hear the very best preachers and teachers. It is true that some Bible study methods are better than others. But the most important thing is to study the Bible.
When we hear God’s word, even imperfectly, it loosens the spiritual bacteria that plague our souls. If we then rinse the sin out of our lives by repentance and by filling our lives with new and more godly activities, much good is done.
If we hear the best of Bible teaching, and follow the finest of methods in study, we could still fail. The best of Bible study methods, engaged in rarely, will make little difference. Even if we study often, little good will be done unless we rinse the sin away by repentance and by engaging in good.
Let us not be hearers, but doers (James 1:22). Looking at the word occasionally but taking no action, is like occasionally brushing one’s teeth but failing to rinse out the harmful bacteria. The sin reattaches itself and we are not better off. We might even be worse off (2 Pet 2:20).
James was not familiar with modern dentistry, but he was saying something similar.
James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
We should use good Bible study methods if we can, but more important than the method is the fact that we study the Bible and then rinse the sin out of our lives by practising what we find in God’s word.