Top 4 Sayings People Think are in the Bible (but aren’t)

Many sayings we hear might sound biblical and even have biblical roots. But, in essence, many are taken out of context from the Bible and don\’t resemble the original passages. Some are funny, but the truth is serious; We need kids that understand the importance of The Bible … ALL of it. A verse without verses can become perverse.

Here are some sayings, out of the context from the Bible, followed by the actual verse, which you should read, in context, for yourself.

1) Money is the root of all evil.

One little word makes a difference. Money is neutral. Loving money is not. Read 1 Timothy 6:10:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

2) Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

While these words might be close to each other in this passage, Scripture indicates that God welcomes sinners who can be cleansed of spiritual dirt, not the physical stuff. While good hygiene is good, it’s not necessarily holy. Read James 4:8:

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!

3) The Lord works in mysterious ways.

While He can work mysteriously, He is consistent in his nature. He is holy and will never deceive or mislead us. While this cliche can be true at times, it’s not always accurate…and it’s also not in the Bible. Read Deuteronomy 29:29:

The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

4) God helps those who help themselves.

Sorry about this one. It’s hard to even find an original reference for this one. Almost all of Scripture seems to indicate the opposite, that God helps the helpless. Now, while perseverance is a great virtue, it stems from enduring, not self-helping.  The follow verse even warns against thinking that we can make it on our own. Read Proverbs 28:26:

The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

Let your kids Explore The Bible. Let them dig deep. Let the Word dwell in them.

Jeffrey Reed serves as the Director of Kids Ministry for Lifeway. He came to Lifeway with a wide variety of ministry experiences including worship leader, director of children’s ministry, and executive leadership in several growing congregations. Jeffrey’s posts will give your heart and brain a workout, just like the fitness Boot Camp he leads in the mornings for Lifeway employees. Jeffrey and his wife Katherine have four kids.