In 1982, the people of Rutland,

North Dakota, got together and cooked up a 3,591-pound hamburger as part

of their centennial festivities. The hamburger was 2.5 inches thick and

16 feet across. The meat donated by local farmers was cooked on a 201-square-foot

steel for two hours. At the time, it bested the former Guinness Book of

World Records holder by 332 pounds.

That's a big burger! How in

the world does a person eat a 3,591-pound hamburger? One bite at a time,

of course!

Actually, it was cut into 6,500

patties that were enjoyed by approximately 6,000 persons enjoying the

celebration. That's still a lot of beef, not to mention a lot of work.

I wonder how many bottles of catsup, mustard, and pickles it took to serve

that many people.

How does a person digest the

great spiritual truths found in the Bible? One truth at a time, one verse

at a time, one book at a time, one promise at a time, and one precept

at a time is the better way to digest God's important message for our

lives.

This intake is essential if

there is to be significant progress in the process of spiritual growth.

A time of daily reading and reflection is helpful to the growing Christian

who is serious about gaining into sight into God's Word and God's way.

There is a danger of which

we should be aware, however. Overeating spiritual food while overlooking

spiritual exercise may cause us to become like Pooh Bear in "Winnie

the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Pooh Bear goes to Rabbit's

for lunch, eats every jar of honey in Rabbit's pantry and finds himself

stuffed. He tries to leave, but becomes stuck in the doorway of the house.

He has to wait until he thins out before he can clear the doorway and

go back home.

That's the picture of the Christian

who does nothing but study, attend Bible conferences, travel to seminars,

listen to tape after tape and finds himself or herself full of knowledge

but short of application. This well-intentioned person can become inflated

and be more of a hindrance than a help. They are heavy on content and

inwardly-focused. They forget the spiritual exercise of service.

The better approach is one

of balance between study and application, learning and doing, gathering

data and putting data into good use in everyday practice. There must be

balance between spiritual feeding and hands-on ministry.

The responsible Christian neglects

neither the spiritual disciplines that bring personal growth and the expressions

of service that help others in the name of Jesus.

As James wrote, "Be doers

of the word, and not hearers only." We must learn, but we must apply

what is learned each day of our lives.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor,

McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville.)