Skip to main content

Addition By Subtraction



   In math it doesn't make a lot of sense but in life there really is such a thing as addition by subtraction.  It is when you gain when you remove something from your life. The Bible is full of examples.

1 Corinthians 15:33  “Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Proverbs 13:20  “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Ecclesiastes 9:18  “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”
Hebrews 12:1  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Ephesians 4:22  “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,”


   In our lives, we all have thing we don’t need any more that we keep around anyway. The junk drawer, the back of the garage, the storage shed.  The stuff we collected and keep even thought it is useless.  Maybe it’s a sentimental attachment, maybe we think we just might need it again, or maybe it gives us comfort.  Most times however all it does it get in the way and keep us from getting things in order.  The same can be true for people, habits, and traits in our lives.  We keep them around even though they are not doing us any good and in reality are making our live harder.  Could it be it's time to throw some things away?

   Look around and take stock of your life. What is there that you would be better off without? The “friends” that only encourage you back into sin.  The sinful habit you just keep doing even though it brings nothing but misery.  The bad attitude, the grudge, the old complaint.  Why are you holding on to them?  What good are they doing?

   Make your life better by getting rid of something. Add to your life but subtracting the junk. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Until Midnight

    In Acts 20, there is the tragicomic event surrounding a young man by the name of Eutychus. He did what a lot of folks before and after him did, he fell asleep during a sermon. Unfortunately, he was setting in in the third story window at the time. So instead of nodding off and hitting the pew in front of him, he fell to his death. The good news was the apostle Paul was delivering the sermon and had the ability to bring him back.       I don’t know, however, if we can judge Eutychus too harshly. The sermon had gone on till midnight. Paul wouldn’t finish it up till daybreak. That’s a long lesson. I know some folks that might want to jump out of a window if I had a lesson that long, yet these Christians wanted to be there to hear Paul.   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pushing for all night sermons but I think we might need to adopt these folks' dedication. They knew that Paul was only in town for a limited time only and they were determined to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift You Give Yourself

    I always hated buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me.   There are however gifts you give that benefit you more than the receiver. For example, forgiveness. When you give it, you are giving it to yourself as much as you are giving it to them. Jesus said that when we forgive others it means God is forgiving us our wrongs (Matthew 6:14-15).  I once read: “ Heaven is where everyone's forgiven. Hell is where nobody's forgiven.  So, when we forgive we pull heaven down into our lives.  When we withhold forgiveness, we pull hell up into our lives ” Give yourself something nice today, Forgive.
Post a Comment
Read more

Mysterious Ways

    William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live.   He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there.   But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.  You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.     I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...
Post a Comment
Read more