Tell me what you have learned from a mistake that you have made at work.  The preceding is a common question that you may encounter in the interview process when looking to be hired by a new company.  Most people do not enjoy talking about any mistakes that they have made, especially when interviewing for a job.  

The point of the question is to see if you have the ability to learn from your mistakes, the question is not intended to search for the one person who has never made any mistakes.  It is a good thing if you can learn from your mistakes, but it is much better, and less painful if you can learn from the mistakes that someone else has made.

In Judges chapters 10-12 we find the ninth Judge of Israel, Jephthah.  Jephthah made a big mistake, and it is that mistake that I want to help you to avoid today.

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. – Judges 11:30-31

Jephthah lost his only child, a daughter, but he did not have to lose her at all.  If he had known the law as well as he had demonstrated that he knew Israel’s history as demonstrated in Judges 10:10-16, then he would have known:

• Human sacrifice was forbidden (Leviticus 18:21)
• Un-scriptural vows could be replaced and forgiven (Leviticus 5:4-10)

The biggest mistake that Jephthah made was not the obvious mistake of making an ill thought out vow.  His biggest mistake was a mistake that you could very easily make yourself today.  His mistake was not knowing what the Bible had to say to him in his time of need.

The Cost Of Not Knowing Your Bible

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

If you do not know your Bible, it will cost you some things.  The Bible is intended to be profitable for you, but if you do not know what it says, you will not be able to enjoy those profits.  Instead of reaping those profits, your ignorance of the word of God will cost you some things:

Faulty Doctrine

The first thing mentioned that the Bible is profitable for, is doctrine.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. – 2 Timothy 3:10-11

You are intended to know doctrine.  Doctrine is the way that you are instructed in the truths of the gospel (Websters 1828).  You can know correct doctrine:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. – 2 Peter 1:20-21

True doctrine does not come from what men think, but what the Bible says, by allowing it to interpret itself.  The proper way to interpret scripture is with other scriptures:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

If you are going to know true doctrine:

• First, you need to study the scriptures

  • Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

• You also need to rightly divide the scriptures

  • God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
    Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; – Hebrews 1:1-2

    • The scriptures have divisions and if you do not pay attention to those divisions, your doctrine will be faulty.

Missed reproof

The next cost that is associated with not knowing your Bible is that you will miss out on much-needed reproof or discipline in your life.

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. – Proverbs 12:1

Reproof leads to:

• Understanding

  • He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. – Proverbs 15:32

• Knowledge

  • Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. – Proverbs 19:25

• Wisdom

  • The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. – Proverbs 29:15

No Hope

Without correction, you will lose hope, which is the next cost of not knowing your Bible.

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. – Proverbs 3:11-12

Reproof will show you what is wrong, but if you only know what is wrong without a way to fix that wrong, you will be left hopeless.  Correction gives you that hope because correction will show you how to fix it:

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. – Psalms 119:71

Your Way Will Be Lost

Without instruction in righteousness, you will lose your way

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. – Psalms 119:9-16

If you are going to know which way that you ought to go, you need an established plan.  You will receive that plan from the scriptures:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. – Psalms 37:23-31

Have you made the mistake of Jephthah?  Most people would say that his mistake was in making a vow in the first place.  I agree that making such a vow was ‘a’ mistake, but it was not the biggest mistake.

His bigger mistake was not knowing the scriptures.  He knew his history, but he did not know Gods word.

He could have corrected his initial mistake by knowing the scriptures.

How about you?