Take any aspect of life; balance is fundamental for a smooth and successful life. For example, to be healthy, one needs to have a balanced diet and exercise. One who fails to keep a right balance between workplace and home will definitely face trouble. Stability and prosperity depend upon our balanced response to variety of duties and obligations however small they may be.
Anything in excess is always counterproductive. Just like a flat tire causes a vehicle to lose the balance and the ride becomes difficult, an unbalanced lifestyle makes the going tough. Whether it is personal, social or spiritual, giving the same importance to every area in a balanced manner is imperative for a peaceful and harmonious life.
Someone has rightly said, “Extremes are always in the gutter.” Favouring one side and neglecting the other may look convenient for the moment, but in the course of time it will prove to be dangerous. Most of the violence today is the result of extreme ideologies. Even if the intention is right and the cause is noble, we should never lose the balance.
This balanced approach to spiritual life should begin with our understanding of and obedience to the word of God. Twice Moses exhorted the people of Israel,
“Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” (Deuteronomy 5:32; 17:11)
Then the LORD reminded Joshua,
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7)
Notice the instruction carefully, ‘do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left’. One of the ideas this expressions gives is the need to maintain balance while we obey God’s word. Holding on to one aspect of the law passionately and neglecting the other will be disastrous.... ->>>More
Out line:-
The Balanced Life
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Balanced in getting and giving (Pro 30:8-9 cf. 1 Cor11:23a)
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Balance in Hearing and doing (JAS 1:22)
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Balance in doctrine and practice. (Act 1:1)
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Balance in the home and church.
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Balance in our entertainment and work.
- Don Robinson
Anecdote: -
Devil’s Device
Once the Devil was walking along with one of his associates. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. "What did he find?" asked the associate. "A piece of the truth," the Devil replied. "Doesn't it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?" asked the companion. "No," said the Devil, "I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it."
— Klyne Snodgrass
Reflections: -
Prepare with Diligence
"It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth"? (Lamentations 3:27, NASB).
Some time ago I received an email from an old friend. We hadn't chatted for about 13 years, so it was nice to get reacquainted. After exchanging a couple of emails we found we were both teaching senior Sunday school classes. I offered him some curriculum I had written about New Testament church principles for my class. His response was interesting. He wanted the curriculum and said, "If I don't teach it to them, nobody will."
We started out as bright young men with a great deal of potential. And we spent time learning the Scripture and preparing ourselves for future service. But somewhere along the line we grew up. Our time of preparation was over. Yes, as adults we still study the Bible, but the time of life when we had nothing to do but prepare for the future is over. Now we must balance our study with our employment, family obligations and active Christian service.
Of course when were young men we thought we were busy. But looking back I've come to realize the truth of Lamentations 3:27. It really is good for a man to bear the yoke when he is young. Looking back I wish I had spent more time and energy in spiritual preparation. How much opportunity was wasted on activities which were not evil but were simply... inane, pointless and unprofitable?
I am now 54 years of age. I am not a bright young man with potential anymore. I'm at an age where a man must be fully active in serving the Lord. Whether I'm well prepared or not, if I don't do it, it probably won't get done. But if I have prepared myself with diligence I will be much more effective in the Lord's work. Young men, my charge to you is to prepare yourself with diligence. The day is coming soon when you will have little time for preparation and will need to be active in service.
Shawn Abigail, Canada
Exhortation: -
Abounding in the Work of the Lord
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, in as much you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”ť (1 Corinthians 15:58).
This is a wonderful verse that has encouraged many Christians throughout the centuries. First of all, it promises us that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. We must receive this verse by faith since there are moments where we see no obvious fruit and we think that "all has been in vain." But this is not true. Sooner or later, perhaps in eternity, we will see that all that we have done for the Lord Jesus bore fruit.
Secondly, this verse exhorts us to be always "abounding in the work of the Lord."
I think of the old Keith Green song where he said, "Jesus rose from the dead, but you cannot get out of bed." So many, especially among young people, wish to be great missionaries, great orators, great this, great that, but ask them if they have regular time of personal devotions with God each day. So often the answer is that they barely make it out of bed in time to get to work before 8:00!
Dear saints, Jesus rose from the dead and we need to "get out of bed" and abound in the work of the Lord. Beyond our personal walk with the Lord, it also involves our service for Him in the family, in the local church, and in prayer, evangelism and discipleship.
Let us not forget that to Jesus, the exalted Lord and Saviour, all authority has been given in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18). His final command to us was: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . ." (Mat 28:19).
George Sturm, Albania
