For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3 NLT
The word of God is not a buffet you choose from but a diet you consume in whole. Becoming selective as per the topic that interests us is developing an itching ear, that is, training our ears only to listen to things that soothe us. This kind of training makes other Bible topics of little or no interest to us thereby denying ourselves the opportunity to be thoroughly furnished and perfect for every good work.
When we make selections based on topics that appeal to us we inadvertently reject others and deny ourselves the life-changing power of those scriptures. When you prefer to read some portion of the scriptures because it appeals to you then you’re developing an itching ear and an inability to endure sound doctrine or balanced teaching and therefore you will not be able to grow into a wholesome believer.
We have unconsciously divided the body of Christ along the line of Bible subjects thereby producing lopsided believers. There are many exposed only to the Word of faith, others have been trained only to appreciate the subject matter of discipleship, anything other than that is unwelcome, while some others have narrowed their entire Christian life and living only to spiritual warfare continuously battling demons while others completely ignore the activities of demons thereby allowing themselves to be ignorant of the devil’s devices. To many others, Christianity is all about prosperity and pleasure while the scriptures and teachings on the life of self-denial is completely avoided. However, the scripture says “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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV).
When all you read and listen to is only Scriptures and teaching that has to do with your own biases, you are far from sound doctrine. Because what sound doctrine is living by the entire word of God and not a select few. Listen to what Jesus said and let it be an admonition for you today, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV).