BALANCE

BALANCE

THE PERFECT MODEL

WHOSE LIFE SHOULD SERVE AS A PATTERN FOR OUR OWN? ( Luke 2:41-52)

Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him. (Luke 2:52)

JESUS IS OUR MODEL.

The second chapter of Luke shows us that although Jesus was unique, he had a normal childhood and adolescence. In terms of development, he went through the same progression we do. He grew physically and mentally, he related to other people, and he was loved by God. A full human life is not unbalanced. It was important to Jesus-and it should be important to all believers-to develop fully and harmoniously in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.

BALANCED LIVING

HOW DOES BALANCE AFFECT SPECIFIC AREAS OF LIFE? (John 2:1-11)

The next day Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. (John 2:1-2)

BALANCE AFFECTS WORK AND PLEASURE (1 Timothy 4:6-16)

Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of mankind. Yet he took time to attend a wedding and participate in its festivities. We may be tempted to think we should not take time out from our “important” work for social occasions. But maybe these social occasions are part of our mission. Jesus valued these wedding festivities because they involved people, and Jesus came to be with people. Our mission can often be accomplished in joyous times of celebration with others. Bring balance to your life by bringing Jesus into times of pleasure as well as times of work.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

BALANCE IN PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL AREAS.

Are you in shape both physically and spiritually? In our society, much emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual health (godliness) is even more important. Our physical bodies are susceptible to disease and injury, but faith can sustain us through these tragedies. To train for godliness, we must develop our faith by using our God-given abilities in the service of the church (see 4:14-16). Are you developing your spiritual muscles?

BALANCE IN HOW OUR LIVES AFFECT OTHERS.

Timothy was a young pastor. It would be easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. He had to earn the respect of his elders by setting an example in his speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Regardless of your age, God can use you. Whether you are young or old, don’t think of your age as a handicap. Live so others can see Christ in you.

BALANCED INPUT.

The Scripture that Paul mentions is in fact the Old Testament. We must make sure to emphasize reading the entire Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments. There are rich rewards in studying the people, events, prophecies, and principles of the Old Testament.

BALANCE IN CHOOSING GOOD MODELS TO FOLLOW.

Timothy’s commission as a church leader was confirmed by prophecy (see also 1 Timothy 1:18) and by the laying on of hands by the elders of the church. He was not a self-appointed leader. If you aspire to church leadership, seek the counsel of mature Christians who know you well and who will hold you accountable.

BALANCE IN PURSUING EXCELLENCE.

As a young leader in a church that had a lot of problems, Timothy may have felt intimidated. But the elders and prophets encouraged him and charged him to use his spiritual gift responsibly. Highly skilled and talented athletes lose their abilities if their muscles aren’t toned by constant use, and we will lose our spiritual gifts if we don’t put them to work. Our talents are improved by exercise, but failing to use them causes them to waste away from lack of practice and nourishment. What gifts and abilities has God given you? Use them regularly in serving God and others. (See Romans 12:1-8 and 2 Timothy 1:6-8 for more on using the abilities God has given us.)

BALANCE IN SELF-EVALUATION.

We know the importance of watching our lives closely. We must be on constant guard against falling into sin that can so easily destroy us. Yet we must watch what we believe just as closely. Wrong beliefs can quickly lead us into sin and heresy. We should be on guard against those who would persuade us that how we live is more important than what we believe. We should persevere in both.

GOD’S WORD ON BALANCE

HOW DO I LIVE A BALANCED LIFE?

Romans 13:14 . . . Let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 8:6 . . . If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

When we let Christ have control of our lives, he will help us to bring everything into balance, giving us life and peace.

Psalm 37:34 . . . Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path.

Trusting God in everything helps us to keep our lives in balance.

Proverbs 12:3 . . . Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots.

Living a godly life in harmony with God’s will gives us the stability we long for.

Luke 3:14 . . . “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money. . . . And be content with your pay.”

1 Timothy 6:6-9 . . . True religion with contentment is great wealth. . . . So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Hebrews 13:5 . . . Be satisfied with what you have.

Often imbalance comes into our lives when we become discontented with what we have. Contentment gives us freedom.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 . . . I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.

When we fully understand what work God has given us to do, we can focus on that and remove distractions that throw our lives out of balance.

HOW DID JESUS LIVE A BALANCED LIFE?

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John 5:19 . . . Jesus replied, “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

Jesus walked in the Father’s footsteps.

Luke 2:52 . . . So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him.

Jesus grew physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

John 2:1-2 . . . The next day Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.

Mark 6:31-32 . . . Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. They left by boat for a quieter spot.

Jesus saw the importance of spending time with people, and also the importance of rest and quiet. Life is both work and play, serious and fun. Keep a balance, as Jesus did.

HOW DO WE FIND THE PROPER BALANCE IN LIFE?

Ecclesiastes 7:13 . . . Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don’t fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?

James 3:13 . . . If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!

A balanced life is a godly life. As Jesus did, actively look to God to see the balance in his activities. When we understand God’s balanced ways, we will understand how to keep balance in our lives.

Proverbs 12:3 . . . Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots.

A balanced life is a walk with God. Finding and maintaining the proper balance in life depends on the depth of our relationship with God.

Romans 12:2 . . . Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

A balanced life knows the mind of the Lord. We can know what God wants us to do as we change our way of thinking to his way.

1 Peter 1:13 . . . Think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.

A balanced life is a life of self-control. As our thinking is transformed to his, our eternal perspective helps us exercise self-control in our life choices.

1 Corinthians 12:27 . . . Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

Romans 12:4-8 . . . Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do.

2 Timothy 1:6 . . . This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

1 Corinthians 15:58 . . . My dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

A balanced life uses the gifts God gave us to do his work, and uses them in the best way possible.

Psalm 119:3 . . . They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

Titus 2:12 . . . We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God.

A balanced life avoids compromise with ungodliness, for ungodliness causes us to lose control.

Psalm 139:3 . . . You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.

A balanced life includes proper rest, sleep, quiet and relaxation. How long could we keep going without these things?

WHAT CAUSES OUR LIVES TO BECOME UNBALANCED?

James 3:14-16 . . . If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

Our lives become unbalanced when we are dwelling on the earthly and unspiritual as opposed to depending on God’s wisdom.

1 Timothy 6:6-9 . . . People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Hebrews 13:5 . . . Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”

Feelings of dissatisfaction often result in an unbalanced life as we focus selfishly on materialism instead of God. Materialism feeds on itself, wanting ever more. Godliness feeds on God, finding contentment in him.

Proverbs 23:21 . . . They are on their way to poverty. Too much sleep clothes a person with rags.

2 Corinthians 8:12-14 . . . If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone’s needs will be met.

Excess often leads to imbalance. Too much of anything means there is not enough of something else, thus an imbalance.

Proverbs 10:21 . . . The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

Common sense can often help us lead balanced lives.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LIVING A BALANCED LIFE?

2 Peter 1:6 . . . Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.

Godliness is a benefit of a balanced life.

James 1:25 . . . If you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law-the law that sets you free-and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

1 Peter 1:13 . . . Think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.

God’s blessings flow from a balanced life-today and for eternity. If we willingly mess up our lives, it’s hard to ask God to bless the mess.

Romans 8:6 . . . If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

Jeremiah 6:16 . . . The Lord says, “Stop right where you are! Look for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’”

In a fast-paced lifestyle, we pay big money to go away for rest and peace. When the Holy Spirit is within, rest and peace are free.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

Titus 2:12 . . . We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God.

Psalm 119:5-7 . . . Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands. When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should.

James 1:25 . . . If you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law-the law that sets you free-and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.