We’ve all heard the phrase, “Too much of a good thing can be bad.” But can that really be true when it comes to godly things, like reading the Bible, listening to worship music, going to church, or serving others? Isn’t more always better?

Surprisingly, the answer might be yes, if we forget why we’re doing those things in the first place. At least, that’s what I came up with when I was recently discerning this in regards to wanting to purchase another study Bible. You see, I’m trying to declutter, downsize, and to stop being the over-consumer of my past. So, the desire to purchase a Bible may seem innocent enough, but you don’t know how many I already own (and I don’t want to count).

Let’s be clear: God’s Word is never harmful, and spending time with Him is always good. But when even good habits become driven by guilt, pride, distraction, or obligation, rather than love and relationship, we can lose the heart of what God desires. Here are three of the issues I think of when we get too much of a good thing:

1. When Good Becomes a Distraction

It’s possible to use good spiritual practices to avoid other areas of life that God is also calling us to engage in. For example, we might bury ourselves in endless Bible study or church work to avoid dealing with relational conflict, emotional pain, or even responsibilities at home. That’s not devotion, that’s escape.

Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 6:12: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial.” Not everything that is permissible is wise or timely. Balance is part of wisdom.

2. When Knowledge Replaces Relationship

Reading Scripture is essential for spiritual growth, but if it becomes purely intellectual, something we consume to win arguments or show off our knowledge, we miss the point.

Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 5:39-40, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.”

Even Bible study can become a substitute for actual intimacy with Jesus.

3. When Good Things Become an Idol

Anything (even Christian music, church work, or ministry) can become an idol if it replaces or competes with our daily surrender to Jesus. Good things should always point us to God, not take His place.

God is not interested in how much we do for Him. He cares most about whether we are walking with Him. The key is not to stop doing good things, but to do them with the right heart and in the right rhythm. We need to let our love for God guide our actions, and trust that He delights more in our presence than our performance.

**P.S. I did end up buying the new NIV Application Bible, which is beautiful and has added abundantly to my daily study…AND it also includes a companion mobile app…friends, this is a really, really GOOD THING.🥰