The Problem with Reading the Bible

Could there really be a problem with reading the Bible? Let me try this out on you. See what you think.
When we read the Bible we learn God's ways. We learn His laws and His truth. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but where the trouble comes in is what we do with what we learn.
From Romans 2 we see two tendencies we have when we know the truth. The first is to apply it others, often in judgment. (Have you ever been listening to a sermon and thought how great it would be if "so-and-so" could hear this?") But the issue of judging others in this way is that we bring condemnation on ourselves. When we judge others, even rightly, we demonstrate that we know the truth. Now there is no excuse if we practice the same things (which Romans says we tend to do.) The religious rulers that Jesus encountered in His ministry were often guilty of that.
The second tendency is to teach others. Now we are supposed to teach others, but the issue here is that we tend to teach others without teaching ourselves first. In fact, we would probably be better teachers if we first taught ourselves, for when we teach ourselves we begin to see the true nature of our own hearts more clearly. This was something the religious rulers of Jesus's day did not see, but which Jesus saw ever so clearly. We saw that in Mark 2 today.
The Puritan writer John Owen speaks well to these tendencies when he said, "The person who understands the evil in his own heart is the only person who is useful, fruitful, and solid in his beliefs and obedience. Others only delude themselves and thus upset families, churches, and all other relationships. In their self-pride and judgment of others, they show great inconsistency."
So, as we seek to read through the Bible and learn its wonderful truths, it will be important for us all to avoid the "problems" associated it. How do we avoid the problems? First, let's judge our own behavior by the Word. Let's not be somebody who judges others, but does the very things we condemn in others. Second, let's teach ourselves the truth before we teach others. When we are our first student we will be a better teacher of others.
When we treat the Word in this way we will grow to be more like Christ which is certainly the aim of our Bible reading. May God help us to be daily transformed by the truths of His Word!