Over the weekend, I watched some televised track and field events. The competition was close, especially in the sprints. With some athletes winning by less than .05 seconds.
One thing I noticed is that none of the participants in either the running or field events wore jeans. No one had on a coat. None wore hiking boots.
Why?
So they could run unencumbered. They wore lightweight running attire and shoes so they could run as fast as possible. If an athlete expected to win, why would they burden themselves with unnecessary weights and obstacles?
Spiritually speaking the Hebrew writer makes that point when he compares the Christian life to running a race. He exhorts, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
A “weight” is an “encumbrance” as the NASU translates it. It’s a burden that slows us down and impedes our progress. The NIV renders this: “let us throw off everything that hinders…” Whatever slows you down spiritually and inhibits your spiritual growth and maturity must be discarded.
Yesterday, we introduced 5 hindrances to spiritual grow. Today, we offer 5 more that we need to remove if we expect to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus Christ.
Older Bible versions call this slothfulness, which ancient theological writings identified as one of the “7 deadly sins.”
The book of proverbs calls this person a sluggard. And describes his pitiful plight. He makes silly excuses like “there is a lion in the street.” He justifies his inaction. And is a thorn in the flesh to others.
Too often, our lack of growth, boils down to plain laziness. To lazy to read. To study. To think. To meditate. To attend classes. To go to worship.
Laziness stunts spiritual growth, misses opportunities, evades responsibility, hinders others, and begets regret.
Remember, Jesus condemned the one talent man who did nothing because of his laziness (Matt. 25:16).
Several years ago I heard Charlie “Tremendous” Jones say in a seminar, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”
Jones was right. Reading good books make a difference. And so does associating with people who can encourage, edify, and lift you up. Conversely, running with the wrong crowd can tear you down. Discourage you from nobler pursuits. And seriously impair your spiritual growth.
The Bible warns that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33).
The profilic author anonymous observed, “You can’t do big things if you’re distracted by small things.” And as baseball player and manager Tony La Russa reminds us, “There are always distractions, if you allow them.”
In His parable of the sower, Jesus speaks of those who allowed the Word to be choked out by “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matt.13:22).
While we must all work, pay the bills, practice fiscal stewardship, and take care of day to day business, we must never allow these concerns to take precedence over and crowd out our spiritual needs.
In an age of individualism, instant gratification, and overly ambitious independence, extreme self-reliance becomes counter productive as well as an inhibitor of growth.
As discussed in previous posts, we need other people to grow. God created us for community and formed a spiritual family for our encouragement and edification. Furthermore, He expects us to rely on Him for strength, purpose, and direction in life. This attitude facilitates spiritual growth.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5).
“Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results,” observed author Norman Vincent Peale.
The Old Testament narrative of the 12 spies in Numbers 13 is a classic example. Moses commissioned them to “spy out the land of Canaan” before they began their conquest. After 40 days 10 spies returned saying that the land was a good land which “flowed with milk and honey.” However, they delivered an “evil report.”
They said we can’t do it. The cities are fortified. There are giants in the land. The people are powerful. Their negative attitude displayed not only their fanciful fears, but a lack of faith and trust in God.
Negative thinking brought Israel to an impasse. Progress came to a standstill. And for another 38 years they wandered in the wilderness. Additionally, an entire generation died because they listened to the nay-sayers.
You cannot grow and move forward spiritually with a negative mind set.
By the way, who remembers the names of the 10 spies? No one. But you know the 2 spies who refuted their comrades with a positive call to action. Caleb and Joshua.
What’s hindering your spiritual growth? What’s holding you back from being all that you can be? What handicap are you facing? Identify it. Then overcome it.
God wants you to grow. In the words of Eric Butterworth, “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
(Note: Each of these 5 points each have a link to past posts to provide greater insight and application)
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