The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser, shown on Channel 10 has developed almost a cult following.

Since trying to lose some pounds, I quite enjoy watching it online (without the distraction of the ads, including those involving food).

There must be tens of thousands of people who (vicariously) watch the contestants try and do something about their weight problems.

The competition goes for a few months and the transformation in the contestants is nothing short of remarkable.

It is hard not to be moved with compassion and joy for those who lose 40-50% of their entire body weight after all their hard work.

In a controlled and focused environment and surrounded by the best trainers and gym equipment, healthy food and medical supervision, people who once thought they were hopelessly overweight are shedding anywhere from 3-10kgs per week! It is not always like that but these figures are pretty usual.

The contestants are seen warts (or should I say weights) and all. There are loads of tears and conflicts within themselves and with the other contestants as they battle their dietary demons. All in full view of a watching public!

Each week they submit to the ‘weigh in’ to see who will fall below the dreaded ‘yellow line’ and face elimination.

It seems to me that those contestants who have succeeded are the ones who have literally had to die to their old habits and ways.

Mild reform and some tinkering here and there just won’t do. As Jason would say, “These people are intentional.”

They have basically ‘repented’ of their previous lifestyle. They have become accountable to their trainers and families- even an entire nation. How do they back out now?

While the show is somewhat artificial (how many people can drop out of the game of life to lose weight this way?) and people are learning self-help techniques rather than dependence on God, there are still some valuable lessons we can learn.

God wants us to be the biggest losers!

Not so much in the physical realm but as we learn to deny self and follow Christ in our choices and direction of life.

Be under no illusion: while there is a life to live for Christ, there is also a death to die.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25

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