“Bible Verses” that Aren’t Actually in the Bible

Show Notes

When you want pithy quotes, check out social media.  When you want words of truth, look to the Bible. But be careful not to get those two mixed up. Some familiar sayings may sound like Bible verses, but they’re really not. Today, we’ll discuss a few fake Bible verses you’ve probably heard many times over. 

Of all the supposed Bible verses that aren’t actually in the Bible, here’s the most familiar one: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”  Now, this sounds great, especially if you’re struggling with financial hardship.  Unfortunately, it’s not true.  The fact is, life is always more than we can handle without God. After all, we need His help just to take our next breath!  

The idea that “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is a misreading of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which actually says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The good news is God’s faithfulness, providing a way so we can endure temptation. That doesn’t necessarily mean we get to avoid it altogether. 

Here’s another popular quote.  Maybe you heard your grandma say this when you refused to do your chores, "God helps those who help themselves.” Again, it might seem like something from the Bible, but it’s not. In fact, it’s the opposite of what God’s word says, which is that our help comes from one place. Psalm 121:2 tells us, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” It’s not “God plus me getting the job done.”

God’s help is never contingent on what you or I do.  In fact, there’s nothing we can do even to earn God’s help. But, again, the good news from the Bible is that “…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s help is always available, not because we do our chores, but because He loves us in spite of our brokenness.

Have you ever had a disappointment, and someone told you, “If God closes a door, He’ll open a window”? Besides letting the bugs in, one way or another, what is that really saying? That God always resolves your problems immediately? In fact, that’s not always the case, is it? Sometimes, God closes a door and we have to wait, with the doors and the windows firmly shut. 

The Bible does promise that God will keep us headed in the right direction when we’re following him with all our hearts.  Psalm 32:8 says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” But the “way you should go” doesn’t necessarily mean God will make an escape hatch when you don’t seem to be making progress. You’ll find that God often does some of His best work as you wait, teaching you to trust Him even more. Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Our next quote is, “To thine own self be true.” That might sound like scripture, but it’s really from Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, and as a piece of advice, it’s completely unbiblical.  “To thine own self be true,” suggests that all you need for success is to follow your own instincts and desires.  Unfortunately, it’s our own instincts and desires that cause us to sin.  Self-reliance is no substitute for reliance on Jesus.  He is the source of truth and the only one we can really rely on.

That brings us to the next common saying: “Follow your heart”. First of all, here’s what Jeremiah 17:9 has to say about our hearts: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” In light of that truth, following your heart seems like a really bad idea.

The next “not-in-the-Bible” quote is, “If God brings you to it, he’ll lead you through it.” 

What’s true about this is that God never abandons us. Jesus said: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s Matthew 28:20. But does that mean God will always pull us out of difficult situations?  Not necessarily. He certainly can rescue us from pain, but sometimes he doesn’t.  

Sometimes he uses trouble to help us rely on him more and ourselves less. bottom line: You can always trust his provision and rest in his peace, even in the middle of hard circumstances.

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