Parasailing Morons

Topic: Stupidity (Knowledge vs. Understanding)

Author: Larry Ely (Youth Pastor)

I like watching extreme sports and a while back I was watching this old show called “Max X” where they basically show clips of people doing insanely sick & crazy stunts and then totally mock them & make fun of their stupidity. So on this episode these crazy guys decide to go parasailing behind a Jeep Cherokee in an empty corn field. They hit the gas, the guy flies up, and it works… then the wind grabs the guy’s chute and collapses it, he comes flying down like a rock, the Jeep continues to accelerate and drags the guy straight into the ground, ouch!

There’s a reason you’re supposed to parasail behind a boat over the water, and this guy found out the hard way. As his friends rush over with the bouncing video camera to inspect his broken leg, the show cuts to a comical clip of an ambulance trying to drive over harvested corn stalks to help the guy. I’m sitting there laughing thinking what a bunch of idiots! Look, I’ve done my share of stupid things and so have you, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the lack of brain power being used.

Upon further analysis, these guys had some knowledge about parasailing, they knew they needed a certain amount of speed, a rope, & a parasail, but they lacked understanding and a bit of common sense. Even though they knew how to do it, they didn’t apply their knowledge correctly.

Sadly, our spiritual lives can be a lot like that too. Often times we know what God wants us to do, we just don’t apply it or we apply it incorrectly. We can end up with a lot of knowledge about God and about how he wants us to live our lives, but unless we actually start applying and living it we’re going to end up hurting ourselves like the crazy stunt guys. Or worse our empty knowledge will fill us with pride & we’ll end up like the religious teachers in the Bible who were full of knowledge but had no heart connection with their Creator.

Psalm 119:10-11 says “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

So I encourage you to hide God’s word in your heart today, but then put his truth into action by using it to fight sin in your life, to love others, to become a better person, to make wise decisions, & to know God more.

As much as I want to know God more & put his Word into action, I fall short. Often times, I pick up the Bible and read a section, close it, and think that was nice and move on with my day. I might be learning, but I’m not living it. Like most things, it takes hard work and discipline to put truth into action. It also takes repetition, so don’t give up. Plants don’t grow overnight, they need water, sunlight, and time. So get in the Word this week, water your soul, and let it sink deep inside you so you can use it to grow.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” -Colossians 3:16

It’s a journey baby, so keep at it. If you fall down or fall behind, get back up and try again. There’s a lot of life left to live, so take heart. God is on your side and he’s not done with you yet. Have a great day & remember the next time you pass a corn field… don’t be a parasailing moron (i.e. knowledge without understanding equals a broken leg).

Post Views: 3