The Balanced Life
We are bombarded daily with exhortations from the media, physical and mental health professionals, and those around us to lead a more “balanced” life. We are encouraged to juggle the demands of family, career, church, community, friends, and personal growth in an even-handed “balanced” way that, theoretically at least, is supposed to lead to health, happiness, effectiveness, and meaning in our life.
Expectations of “Supermoms” and “Superdads” grow each year. They are expected to be able to successfully and joyfully balance carpools, soccer games, dance lessons, karate classes, charity events, and the deadlines and demands of a 60-hour work week – all the while nurturing and growing a loving relationship with their spouse! A balanced life?
Even as I’m writing this, I’m in the midst of a 15-day, 8-state, 16-city road trip on which I am trying to keep “balanced” in all my relationships with family, friends, business associates, and congregations wanting to know more about my ministry! A balanced life?
My question is, what is a “balanced” life? Without accepting at face value what the world tells us is right – through all the so-called experts – how can we know how God wants us to live? From God’s Word, how should we live? From God’s example in Jesus Christ, how should our lives look?
The first thing that strikes me is how “unbalanced” Jesus’ life appears to be, using our standards for such things. Just look at the following list of things that were, apparently, not a high priority for Jesus:
1. Relationships with his immediate family
2. Regular exercise
3. Membership in one congregation
4. Election to office (community or congregation)
5. Career advancement
6. Regular medical/mental health care
7. Hobbies
8. Marriage and children
Now, before you go ballistic on me, I do not intend to imply that these things are wrong, just that they were not a part of Jesus’ “balanced” life!
On the other hand, it is easy to discern what was important in Jesus’ life – important enough to deserve time on His agenda above all else:
1. God’s calling (work agenda) for Him
Luke 2:49-50
And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
2. Identifying and avoiding distractions
Matt 15:24
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
3. Rest
Luke 8:23-24
As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
4. Private time with God the Father in prayer and meditation
Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
5. Mentoring others
Matt 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
6. Fun
John 2:1-2
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
7. A small circle of friends with whom He could share everything
Mark 6:31-32
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
8. Getting the work done
John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
So, as we keep trying harder and harder to align our lives with the expectations of others and their definition of a “balanced” life, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the guilt we experience for falling short just keeps growing and growing. The real problem is that we are trying to model our lives after Ward and June Cleaver instead of Jesus and His disciples.
The “balanced” life is simple, really. It is the life lived according to God’s design and plan for each one of us – to His glory. In this life there is no “burnout”, no “hurry”, no unreal expectations. In this life we have all the resources of time, talent, and treasure we need – when we need them – to accomplish His work. In this life we play not to the audience of the masses – wondering what people will think – but to the Audience of One – knowing that we are His child!
The balanced life is a gift from God. It requires us to focus on His ways for us – and only His ways. But it may look very different from the Cleaver home, and that’s just fine with our Lord!
Soli Deo Gloria!