Proverbs30:5-6 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. NLT
When I was growing up, I heard the story of how God called a meeting in heaven asking for a volunteer that would go to the earth to save mankind. We were told that angels refused the assignment but Jesus volunteered to go. You may have heard that story as a kid. Those that told us the story sounded it in our hearing as though it was written in the bible and they made us believe the story by quoting Isaiah 6:8: "Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me”(NLT). Much later, i discovered there was no story like that in the bible and the text they used in supporting their story has nothing to do with their story.
The writer of our opening text says we should not add to God's word lest we be rebuked and exposed as a liar. It is not good to frame a quote and give it authority by saying, "it is written in the bible that..." One of the ways the devil draw people away from the truth is to add to the bible what God did not say. When he does that, there would be a mixture of truth and error. The commonest statement people often claim can be found in the bible is, "Heaven help those who help themself", yet they can't tell us the book, chapter and verse where it is written. This statement is a trigger for compromise in some cases. It has been quoted as though it is in the bible, but you won't find it there. Actually, the help of God is for those that cannot help themself. When some were faced with the option of compromise, either to cheat or do the wong thing, the devil whispered to them saying, "heaven help those who help themself". Upon hearing that, they fell. That's what happens when there's an addition to God's word.
Pseudo christian movements and cults started on this note. They removed the fundamental teachings of the faith from the bible and added theirs. In places where the deity of Christ was established, they removed it and put their own idea. The word of God need no addition because we want it to validate our ideas neither should we remove from it because it doesn't suit our idiosyncrasies. God frowns at this sternly and that's why he said, "And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book"(Rev22:18 NLT). Do not be guilty of this.
Father, I receive the grace to stay on the word without adding or subtracting from it in Jesus name.