Balance is important to the Christian life

By DAVID L. CHANCEY
Pastor

In 1982, the people of Rutland, North Dakota, got together and cooked up a 3,591-pound hamburger as part of their centennial festivities. The hamburger was 2.5 inches thick and 16 feet across. The meat donated by local farmers was cooked on a 201-square-foot steel for two hours. At the time, it bested the former “Guiness Book of World Records” holder by 332 pounds.

That’s a big burger! How in the world does a person eat a 3,591-pound hamburger? One bite at a time, of course! Actually, it was cut into 6,500 patties that were enjoyed by approximately 6,000 persons enjoying the celebration. That’s still a lot of beef, not to mention a lot of work. I wonder how many bottles of catsup, mustard, and pickles it took to serve that many people.

How does a person digest the great spiritual truths found in the Bible? One truth at a time, one verse at a time, one book at a time, one promise at a time, and one precept at a time is the better way to digest God’s important message for our lives. This intake is essential if there is to be significant progress in the process of spiritual growth. A time of daily reading and reflection is helpful to the growing Christian who is serious about gaining into sight into God’s Word and God’s way.

There is a danger of which we should be aware, however. Overeating spiritual food while overlooking spiritual exercise may cause us to become like Pooh Bear in “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.” Pooh Bear goes to Rabbit’s for lunch, eats every jar of honey in Rabbit’s pantry and finds himself stuffed. He tries to leave, but becomes stuck in the doorway of the house. He has to wait until he thins out before he can clear the doorway and go back home.

That’s the picture of the Christian who does nothing but study, attend Bible conferences, travel to seminars, listen to tape after tape and finds himself or herself full of knowledge but short of application. This well-intentioned person can become inflated and be more of a hindrance than a help. They are heavy on content and inwardly-focused. They forget the spiritual exercise of service.

The better approach is one of balance between study and application, learning and doing, gathering data and putting data into good use in everyday practice. There must be balance between spiritual feeding and hands-on ministry. The responsible Christian neglects neither the spiritual disciplines that bring personal growth and the expressions of service that help others in the name of Jesus.

As James wrote, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” We must learn, but we must apply what is learned each day of our lives.

I recently saw a church who had as its New Year’s slogan “Read the Bible More in 2004.” What is your plan for reading and learning God’s Word this year? I would encourage you to open God’s Word each day and take time to read and meditate on scripture. The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters. That’s a good place to start by reading a chapter a day each month. The book of Mark is a “reader’s digest” version of the life and ministry of Jesus. That’s a good place to start. Reading through the Psalms is enriching.

I would encourage you to participate in a small group Bible study in which people study and learn together. That’s where you connect with people who can support you, encourage you and pray for you. Then I would support you to attend worship every week and listen carefully as God’s Word is proclaimed and applied to your life.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The church family meets at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m.)