God's Coaching #260

God's Coaching #260

It’s not that difficult to pop a wheelie on a bicycle. But imagine riding on only the back wheel of your bike for more than a third of a mile! Now picture yourself doing it down a mountain. In 2004, that’s exactly what Gilles Cruchaud of Switzerland did. Gilles traveled 1,640 feet down a mountain at an average speed of 42.45 miles per hour to set the Guinness World Record for the fastest downhill bicycle wheelie ever. Hey, everybody’s got to be good at something, right?

It’s not every day that you run across someone who is a wheelie-popping expert. You have to wonder how many days, months, or even years of practice went into such a daring, high-speed accomplishment. After all, one wrong twitch of his muscles or gust of wind and Gilles could have suffered a gnarly face-plant.

What’s the Score?

Let’s examine this one-wheeled feat a little more closely. Was it interesting? Sure. Dangerous? Yes. Bizarre? Absolutely. Important? Not so much. In the grand scheme of things, Gilles’s high-speed wheelie wonder ride doesn’t amount to much. It’s a fun novelty that has no real lasting value, other than being a little entertainment.

This is often true of our lives. We can often be guilty of spending too much time on unimportant activities. Evaluate your favorite activities for a moment. Do you spend too much time doing trivial things, or are you putting your efforts toward things of eternal significance? Let’s be a little more specific: How much TV do you watch? How many video games do you play? How much time do you spend playing with toys? There is nothing immediately wrong with these activities. They can all be harmless and fun. But ultimately, they aren’t very important, and they don’t necessarily help us love God more or become more like Christ. They pale in comparison to helping others or studying God’s Word. As Colossians 3:2 reminds us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV). It’s time we reevaluate all the insignificant things in our lives and place a higher priority on growing in godliness.

On the Ball

Identify your favorite hobby, interest, or chilling-out activity, and commit to spending more time this week reading your Bible and praying.

Coach’s Comment

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 (NIV)