If you are going to finish the race of life strong, if we are going to cross the finish line, it is quite likely you will have to make some decisions about those things you think are important, but are really holding you back.
Hebrews 12:1 says, “...Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress...”
There are two important words to notice here: weight and sin. It is often these two things that hold you and I back in the race of life.
A weight is anything that slows you down. It could be a relationship, a job, an activity or even a sport. It may not necessarily be a bad thing, in fact, a weight could be a good thing. But if you get too many good things in your life, you’re going to have problems because you don’t have time for them all. You need to learn to say, “no.” God does not expect you to do everything. Whatever that weight is in your life, if it’s not working for your benefit, it will drag you down. You just need to let go of whatever it is.
Sin, on the other hand, is easy to identify. Sins are things you know you should not do; things that God would have you do, but you don’t do them. For instance, you have a pretty good idea how to have a healthy lifestyle or how to keep your finances in balance, but do you do those things?
James 4:17 reads, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
So, if you know the wise thing is to spend less than what you make, don’t go out on a shopping spree that will put you into a debt you can’t get out of.
You don’t have to keep up with your neighbor or the person down the street or whoever you may be comparing yourself to. You don’t have to take out your charge card so often. If you make the choice to live within your means, you don’t’ have to carry the weight of financial debt and you can run your race in life well.
A weight or sin in your life could be almost anything. So take the time to look at what’s happening in your life right now. Is there anything weighing you down? Are you not doing something you know God wants you to do?
Learn to say, “So what?” to these things.
So what if my neighbor has this toy or has this kind of life? I’m going to let go of these things and instead choose those things that will help me run my race in life well.
This column is presented courtesy of the Tri - Community Baptist Church in Beiseker.
