5 Things That Need Balance

Life is often a precarious balancing act. From our schooling years, we are balancing our time between studies and play. As we enter adulthood, we begin to juggle between more responsibilities: career, finances, family, friends, leisure etc. When children enter the picture, balancing sometimes becomes so nerve wracking that we may feel like falling apart. As Christians, there is now an added layer: we have responsibilities as servants of the Lord.

God desires our life to be balanced. Christians who are unbalanced will have difficulty navigating the balancing act that is called life. Thankfully, the Scriptures give us guidance as to how we may achieve balance in our lives. Here are just a few ways that we can achieve balance:

1. Balance in our Obedience to God’s Commands

“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Luke 11:42).

Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees because they were imbalanced in their obedience to God’s commands. They were very particular in ensuring that the Jews paid their tithes (10%) accurately, to the point of nitpicking on the tithes to be paid on every little vegetable that was sold. Yet, they neglected the weightier matters concerning God’s judgment and love. Jesus instructs that neither command should be left “undone.” In fact, the Pharisees’ imbalance reveals the hypocrisy in their hearts (Luke 11:39).

Imbalance will create difficulty in our service to God. A Christian who diligently studies the Scriptures, and yet fails to perform benevolent works, will be accused as having “all head but no heart” (James 2:14-17). On the other hand, a Christian who is zealous in good works, and yet fails to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, will easily misdirect his zeal in the wrong direction (Romans 10:1-3). Hence, we ought to strive to be balanced in our obedience to God’s commands.

2. Balanced in Preaching

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Those who preach the gospel (whether full-time or not) can fall into the trap of imbalanced preaching. Some may preach fire and brimstone too often, causing Christians to be discouraged. Some may preach only the “good stuff,” causing Christians to miss out on much-needed reminders. Either way, the members of the church will not receive a well-balanced diet of God’s Word.

The apostle Paul reminds Timothy to “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). There are times when the congregation needs to be reproved i.e. convicted of God’s truths. There are times when the congregation needs to be rebuked of sin. There are times when the congregation needs to be exhorted i.e. encouraged to press on. When there is well-balanced preaching, the congregation can be built up.

3. Balance in Parenting

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 ESV).

Parenting is truly a balancing act. Although none of us are perfect parents, we should strive to achieve some balance in parenting the little ones. On one hand, we want to avoid becoming a permissive parent, when we give in to the child’s demands all the time. Instead, the Bible teaches us to discipline our children while they are young (Proverbs 19:18; 23:13-14). Discipline goes hand in hand with the “instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). While they are young, we want to train them up in the way that they should go, so that when they grow up, they will walk in the right way (Proverbs 22:6).

On the other hand, we want to avoid excessive discipline, lest we provoke them to anger, and create resentment in their hearts (Ephesians 6:4). Discipline needs to be implemented at appropriate junctures. Discipline needs to be fair. Discipline needs to be coupled with love and care. When parents develop a strong bond with the children, we will not fear that discipline will drive them away, but rather, we can be confident that the discipline will be effective in its purpose.

4. Balanced in Self-esteem

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3)

It is also important for Christians to have a balanced view of self. On one hand, some are tempted to think too highly of themselves i.e. pride. The proud tend to be scornful towards others (Proverbs 21:24). The proud tend to stir up strife (Proverbs 28:25). The proud tend to trust in themselves rather than in God (Proverbs 28:25-26). Hence, we need to beware of overvaluing our self-worth, lest we fall (Proverbs 16:18).

On the other hand, it is also important that we do not think too lowly of ourselves i.e. low self-esteem. We do not want to make the same mistake as Moses, who made excuses about his inability to speak well, though he really was “mighty in words and deeds” (Exodus 4:10; Acts 7:22). We do not want to be like the one-talent servant who hid his talent in the ground, instead of using it profitably for the Master (Matthew 25:14-30). Instead of thinking too highly or too lowly, we need to think “soberly” of ourselves (Romans 12:3). We need to make an honest assessment of our own abilities, so that we can be profitable servants in the kingdom.

5. Balanced in our Work

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:5-7)

The apostle Paul instructs servants to obey their earthly masters, and serve them diligently, as if they are serving Christ. Today, most of us serve under an employer, and we work to earn a living (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In our work, we ought not be lazy, like some who pretend to be busy only when the boss is looking. Instead, Christians ought to be responsible and hardworking employees.

On the other hand, we do not want to make the mistake of overworking and neglecting our duties towards family and the church. Although work is important, the work of the Lord is even more important. We do not want to make the same mistake as many in the world who make money their master; instead, Jesus is our true Master (Matthew 6:24; Acts 5:29). We do not want to make the mistake as many who make plans without God: such people will not be ready to meet God in the next life (James 4:13-15). Hence, we need to ensure we balance our work against our other commitments, and most especially, not to neglect our commitment towards the Lord.

Concluding thoughts

May we strive to be balanced in our life, so that we can succeed in navigating the balancing act that is called life, and more importantly, to succeed in our service for the Lord! Yet, despite all that has been said, there are some things in our life that just cannot be balanced. These will be discussed in the next article (Link: Click here).