Are You Suffering from Spiritual Scurvy?

In Nehemiah 8, the people have returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem from captivity in Assyria. Nehemiah gathers the entire city to hear the reading of God’s word. For seven days, Nehemiah read and expounded the law with 12 elders of the city assisting him (a forerunner of Jesus and the disciples).

[Neh 8:8 KJV] 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.

Today in the average church, there is little or no reading of the word of God. We sing we fellowship, take offerings, and listen to a brief topical message, but no room is made for reading God’s word other than in “nominal” churches who use scripture readings in their liturgy. In the Early Church, things were different. Paul strictly charged Timothy:

[1Ti 4:13 KJV] 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Notice that reading (or expository presentation of the Scripture) is mentioned first by Paul BEFORE exhortation (topical preaching) or doctrinal (teaching of essential doctrines). Yet in the vast majority of churches expository teaching of the word, verse by verse and chapter by chapter is ENTIRELY ignored in favor of exhortation or doctrinal messages.

This is a big problem. It can cause “spiritual scurvy.” What is that? Read on.

If all you hear are topical messages, it’s like having an imbalanced diet. The crews at sea in sailing days suffered from scurvy because they had a limited diet. When you read the Bible, however, verse by verse and chapter by chapter, you don’t have the luxury of skipping passages that are difficult or perhaps boring in some way. You get a full diet.

Are you suffering from spiritual scurvy? A person suffering scurvy has the following symptoms:

1. They bruise easily. Are you easily offended? Do you get your feelings hurt often? You might be suffering from spiritual scurvy.

2. Teeth become loose. We “masticate” or eat with our teeth. Spiritually speaking, it has to do with properly ingesting the deep things of God’s word. Do you get turned off if you have to think too much when listening to a gospel message? You might be suffering from spiritual scurvy.

3. Baldness. Scurvy causes hair to fall out. Hair is a type of glory and being under authority. Has the glory of God departed from your life? Do you have trouble responding to authority? You might be suffering from spiritual scurvy.

God’s word is the cure!

Do you think 1 Tim. 4:13 applies to you? Should you give attention to reading? Should your church give attention to reading? When was the last time that your church read any lengthy passage of Scripture? Isn’t that a problem? God wants you to have a balanced diet of His Word, and if your pastor isn’t giving it to you, then you need to see to it that you and your family members are adequately fed a balanced diet of God’s Word. You put natural groceries on the table to feed their bodies – it is time to put spiritual groceries on the table for your spiritual well being and that of your family.