It seems like the word "balance" is the new buzz word of our day. We are supposed to eat a balanced diet. We are supposed to have a balanced schedule. Politicians are supposed to have a balanced approach to their campaign. I guess it makes sense. Whenever we lose our balance it isn't a pretty sight. Physically, when we lose our balance we normally end up on our behinds with other people laughing at us. When we lose our balance emotionally it doesn't normally turn out to good either. Our government has long since given up on the concept of a balanced budget and look at the mess it has gotten us into.
What I find disturbing is that I have noticed this concept creeping into Christianity. It seems like we have some how made "living a balanced life" a Biblical mandate. While I see the merits to balance in a lot of instances, I believe that there can be an unhealthy toxic view of balance as well.
This toxic view of balance can be used to convince us to live a totally vanilla, mediocre life. Because we want to avoid "extremes," we are some how convinced that we are to give small parts of life to a million different things. It is like we have all these different baskets, friends, dating, career, hobbies, school, marriage, kids, and o yeah God. You don't want to put "all your eggs in one basket" so obviously to achieve balance you must give a little bit of yourself to everything.
The problem is "balance" seems so unachievable. Your boss probably isn't going to come to you and say, "I noticed you have been working too much lately. You need to go home and be with your family." Your spouse and children are never going to come to you and say, "Honey, you have been spending too much time with us as a family. We think you need to spend more time at work."
Where do we find this concept in the Bible? Do you see Jesus preaching about how you need "balance" in your life. No, you find him saying crazy things like "If you love your father or mother, wife or children more than you love me, your not worthy to be my disciple." All throughout the New Testament we consistently hear about making Jesus "Lord" or "Master" of our life. Does that sound like a "balanced life?"
What we do see throughout the Bible is that God wants us to give all of ourselves to him first and foremost and then he wants us to give all of ourselves to those around us. Jesus summed this up when he said that the greatest commandments were as follows: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself." That doesn't sound like "balance" at all. Give 100% of myself to God then give 100% of myself to those around me. That doesn't even sound mathematically possible.
God teaches us that a fool gives part of himself to a lot of important things. But a wise man gives all of himself to a few crucial things.
That is so true Brother Singleton. I myself even find it hard to balance it all. But God says in his word that He will never give us too much to handle. I love Proverbs 15:10 which says " Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way, the on who hates reproof will die." It is true abandonment to the Lord. But I challenge everyone (including myself) to discipline yourself daily . Give your all to God, and leave no regrets. Be a soldier for Christ ( being a disciple), and strive to become what God has intended for you to be in every aspect of your life. But first give your all to Jesus daily, because he gave you his whole heart... not a part of it nor half of it. But he gave all of his heart, so in return is it that hard for us to give him our whole heart... not just part or half... but our whole heart.
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