Why reading the Bible can be boring

There are three main reasons why reading the Bible is boring.

1. The subject matter seems irrelevant

2. The subject matter is complex

3. Satan does not want you to read it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are other reasons too. Some people are more prone to enjoy reading. The digital age we lives in can cause us to be more easily distracted, and always be seeking new stimulation

But I would argue that if you:

1. Found what you were reading in the Bible intensely relevant (that being that it is intensely interesting),

2. Entirely comprehensible,

3. And nothing was working against you (ie. the Devil),

you would read the Bible voraciously.

Let's briefly dive into each point.

1. Irrelevance

We find interesting what we find relevant. If what we are reading does not seem to relate to us in any way, we can quickly zone out. 

And I can think of 613 reasons why that may just happen when reading a book like Leviticus.

Whether it be the laws on purification or the genealogy, it's enough to start thinking, “Why did God choose to include this in the Bible?”  What possible relevance could this have for me today?

And we put down the Bible, and move on with our lives.

Simply put, if it does not seem applicable, it can quickly become boring.

2. Complexity

There is a lot in the Bible that makes little sense.

Much of it is filled with info where you feel “you had to be there” in order to get it.

• Old customs,

• laws,

• sayings,

• geography,

• culture

that is all referenced with the expectation you fully understand.

On top of that, there is imagery and prophecy and just plain strange stories. The language can be difficult, sometimes you are reading one half of a letter exchange without knowing what/who the author is replying to. 

There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of reasons that make the Bible downright confusing to understand.

And that makes it difficult, vague, and as a result, boring.

3. Satan does not want you to read the Bible

If all this was not enough, there is also a spiritual battle going on.

Satan (and our mind) often fight against sitting still and reading the Bible with everything he (it) has.

This means on top of the practical challenges that need to be overcome, a spiritual battle also needs to be won everytime you sit down to do some Bible reading.

Take a moment to celebrate

Given all these challenges, it honestly is a miracle we manage to read our Bible at all.

So I want to end today by just recognizing that if you take time to read your Bible, that is amazing.

You are overcoming the battle with the evil one, with your own mind, and with the complexities and seemingly irrelevancies of it.

I thank God he has given you the grace to do so.

But, still you may think, okay, I am reading, but it is boring, and I don’t feel like I am getting anything out of it.

Well, come back tomorrow when we will discuss how God actually designed Bible reading to be enjoyable.

For now,

Be blessed.

Aaron,

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