Romans 14:1-2

Living so near the water one must have a boat, so I did as I felt was my obligation, and I bought one. My purchase was a boat that needed a motor.  For a seventeen foot boat, I was able to find a good deal on a 150 horse power Blackmax Mercury, and I had the seller install it.

When I went to pick up my new purchase, I couldn’t believe how big the motor was on the stern of the boat. Nervously, I questioned the seller if it might be too big.  His reply made a lot of sense. He said, “You don’t have to go full throttle everywhere you go. It has different speeds, you know.”

What a life lesson. As with my possessions or my actions, I don’t have to go full throttle. When riding through the channel, I don’t need to go full throttle to get where I want to go at the expense of those around me. Just because I own a large TV does not mean it has to be on all the time. Just because I have God’s word in my life, doesn’t mean that I have to bowl others over. In my spiritual enthusiasm I need to proceed at a pace that meets the needs of the person to whom I am sharing Christ’s love. Even though I desire to move quickly, I need to slow down to help the person who is not as far along in his Christian walk as I; I need to help the other person “to get on board” and not go full throttle. 

 --Rodney Guthrie