Itching ears lead to trouble

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3 NLT

If you've been running for any length of time like I have, you've probably seen lots of trends come and go. Remember the Vibram toe shoes that were all the rage for a while until countless runners got injured? Well now there is another new trend that Colleen M. Brough, director of Columbia Runlab at Columbia University, is seeing, "Runners, especially recreational runners, have full-on embraced the ankle and wrist weights trend." Why the sudden interest in running with weights you might ask? "While gyms were closed, the perceived benefits of the cuff weights trend might allow for strength training and aerobic fitness getting done in the same workout,” Colleen said. “Some think that greater strength gains are happening because of the greater load being towed during the run.” But just like most trends in the fitness industry... this one comes with a high potential for injury and should be avoided.

And you know, when it comes to trends or the ways in which something changes or develops, the world has never been short of people searching for new ideas or ways to do things. Unfortunately trends aren't just limited to changing the way we do fitness or fashion either. In record numbers, professing Christians are looking "for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear." Why? Because "sound and wholesome teaching" doesn't fit into their lifestyle and makes them uncomfortable. But guess what? This growing trend is extremely dangerous because, unlike the world's view of morality which changes by the minute, God's definition of what's right and wrong never changes and neither do the consequences for disobedience that are laid out in the Bible.

So if what you're listening to doesn't convict you or make you feel uncomfortable in some way, then you might want to ask yourself, "Does the message this person is preaching align with the Truths laid out in the Bible or does this person only say what I want to hear?"

Heavenly Father, thank You for the timely reminder that trends are not tried and true. They come and go and usually leave disaster in their wake. Help us to seek out and listen to only those pastors and teachers that deliver sound doctrine that aligns completely with your Word. Incite us to be "factcheckers" Lord who read our Bibles diligently and consistently so we might be discerning in these last days and lead others to be the same by our example. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

You never change