Hebrews 12:1-3
I do not like to run, but in the Army, I could not avoid running. My military experience makes verse 1 easy to understand. A rucksack hinders, but on a field march, we could not throw it off. Clearly, in a race the runner carries only what is necessary. Experience soon teaches us that it is easier to run on a flat smooth track than it is to run through the woods or jungle. When running in the rough, we have to be careful not to let roots and vines entangle us. St. Paul in his writings compared living as a Christian to running a race. In chapter 12, the writer of Hebrews is making the same comparison. When we think of what it means to throw off everything that hinders, our mind turns to bad or wicked things. Yet that does not make sense, Christians should not have bad or wicked things as a part of their life. We gave up the world when we chose Christ. The things that hinder Christians are not necessarily evil; in fact, many are very good. The things that hinder are also not the same for every Christian. A good hobby can hinder a Christian when it becomes so time consuming that it leaves no room for Christian ministry. Friendship is not a bad thing, but when a friendship draws a Christian away from Christ instead of to him, it becomes a hindrance. I have heard Christians say they would rather “burn out then rust out.” God does not want us to do either. If we become involved in doing so many good things that we grow weary, we may fall. Perhaps we will not fall away from Christ, but we will fall out of his will for our life. God does not want us to try to do everything. Discover what he wants you to do, and leave the other things for someone else to accomplish. Do not allow the good you are doing hinder you from doing what is best.