Holding the Handrails

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

 

I was at the gym recently and saw two different people using a treadmill for a fairly long period of time. They were moving at a good rate, but they were holding firmly to the handrails as they “walked” on it.

Someone had told me that holding the handrails would decrease the effectiveness of the workout. I came home and did a little Google search.

Holding on Hinders

Here is what I found: “Holding the handrails affects the quality of your treadmill workout. The American College of Sports Medicine notes that holding the handrails results in an inconsistent walking pace. Your form becomes unnatural, which may result in muscle strain and discomfort.”

“Holding the handrails makes your workout easier — it transfers the load from your legs to your upper body, reducing the amount of effort required and reducing the amount of calories you burn during your workout.”

Here is where I found it: http://www.livestrong.com/article/455192-does-it-matter-if-you-hold-on-while-on-a-treadmill/

I was thinking about those people and their time on the treadmills. They were there when I got there and they were still on them as I was leaving. But, they were getting little benefit for all that time spent.

It made me think about how many people spend a lot of time studying God’s Word. They go to church every week and to a Bible study (or two or three) during the week. They hold onto those “rails” as if they are all they have.

Be Doers

James says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

Just as those people on the treadmill are deceived into thinking they are getting a good workout while holding onto the rails, too much time spent studying may reduce the overall benefit of the study.

As a Christian, when we spend all of our time studying God’s Word so that we fail to take opportunities to live it out, we reduce the effectiveness of our service to God. We need to know His Word to act on it. But, when we hold onto the study as the handrails, rather than letting go and living it, we reduce our own effectiveness as servants of God.

I teach Bible Studies. I go to Bible Studies. I love to hear good solid preaching. Bible study is important. Sound doctrine is important. So are good works. So is being a walking, talking witness for Jesus Christ. We cannot allow one to keep us from the other, they come as a sweet package.

Just as those handrails on the treadmill are there to set us upright if we begin to fall or to catch our balance if we stumble, the Word of God will help to lift us up when we fall or to stand firm when the obstacles are thrown in our path.

Christian, we can study the scriptures and never know too much about what they say, but are you and I doing what it says?