Lightening The Load
By John Hendrix
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. (Acts 27:38)
This passage is taken from the story of Paul’s shipwreck on his way to Rome. Two hundred and seventy six people were on the ship when it left Fair Havens of Crete. They only wanted to skirt around the Island to the other side. But the weather turned bad and sent them among the many Islands of the Mediterranean. Two days out they started lightening the ship (27:18). We do not know what they threw overboard, but the next day the passengers and crew threw over the ship’s tackle to lighten the ship more.
The storm winds blew the ship far from Crete. Weeks later they did not even know where they were. But they could tell they were drawing near land (27:28). They checked the water depth and realized it was getting shallow fast. Paul convinced them to eat and, afterwards, they threw the ship’s cargo of wheat into the water.
I wonder how important that wheat was when it was first loaded on to the ship? Maybe it was the ship’s staple food supply. Maybe some merchant planned to make a lot of money when it was sold in some port. It no doubt seemed good to have on board at first, but it was only a liability to a storm-tossed ship running fast towards the Isle of Malta.
In shallow water it is imperative to float as high in the water as possible. The bottom of a ship can “run aground” miles from any dry land. With the prospect of being tossed into the sea, it is amazing what becomes expendable—even an undesirable burden. The tackle and the wheat had not only become unnecessary, but just plain dangerous.
Wise sailors do not wait for the ship to hit the under-water rocks before lightening the ship. Once-precious cargo is happily dumped overboard before the ship is damaged.
Christians live in treacherous waters. Sin easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1). Our enemy roams around seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Lack of contentment leads to love of money, and this has shipwrecked many, many souls (1 Timothy 6:9). There is also our untamable tongues (James 3:8) and a host of other risks.
We may need to lighten our load.
Any number of things may be weighing us down, leading us to sin, or making sin harder to resist. The wise Christian does not wait for a shipwreck to cast these things overboard.
Are you too busy? How often I hear someone say, “I’ve got too many irons in the fire.” How seldom do I see that one pull any irons out! Many of us convince ourselves that we can give up just about anything “if we have to.” It will be too late when our lives are already on the rocks. So, while all of our time is spent, our spirituality—our godliness—is giving way to worldliness, Christians in need are neglected and strong Christian bonds wither to scorched threads.
But there is no time to worry about that now. We need to put another TV on the credit card or buy a newer car. We may have the money and to spare, but we pay dearly in godly devotion: our treasures pile up on earth and our hearts are here also (Matthew 6:21).
Then there are sports and other activities. Let us “cash in” some more family time or prayer time or time for Christian exhortation. I am riding mighty low in the water, but I am having a good time. Or I would if my nerves would let me. At least I have a lot of toys, and, maybe, my kids can play ball better than any of yours.
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Have I taken on too much earthly weight for safe sailing? Have you? More importantly, do you—do I—really want to know?
“There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.” (Jonathan Swift)
I cannot answer for you, nor you for me. But I can tell you this for certain: the sea is shallow and rocky and the weather is unpredictable. You and I should consider lightening the load.