Balance is key to many things in life. For me, it was always key in gymnastics, yet I'm finding it even more crucial in my daily life, my daily walk with Christ, and my daily investment in those Christ has placed in my path.
Inward--Outward--Upward
Within my journey as a Christ follower, I have come to the realisation that if I am only reaching out (outward) to those who have not chosen to follow Christ, I do so only in my own strength and effort, which is futile in comparison with what the Holy Spirit could do if I allow Him. If I only interact and invest in my fellow brothers and sisters (inward) in Christ, I may be enjoying the fellowship of the Kingdom, but not expanding it. And furthermore, if I only build in my relationship with God (upward) yet sit idly by and keep it to myself, its purpose is stunted. Long story short, any of those scenarios is evidence of an unbalanced journey. All three are necessary, all three are key, to all three God has called me. If I do not commune with God, how can I pour into those around me, and if I am not spending time with brothers and sisters, how can I be encouraged and supported in such a tangible way? And if I am not reaching out to others, is there really much point to the other two? I mean, I love my brothers and sisters. I love Jesus. But if I say that and mean it, I shouldn't be able to contain myself, I shouldn't be able to keep it to myself.
Pray. Go. Love.
This has been bouncing around in my brain since Sunday morning. I'm not sure exactly what was said to bring it about, but I believe it was the Holy Spirit reminding me that FIRST: pray. Planning, going, loving; all are secondary and pointless if we do not pray. If I do not pray. But if I pray and do not go, it is like planning a holiday and never actually going on it (not a perfect comparison, but when it comes to Kingdom work, how can you compare it?!). SECOND: But if I do pray, I must go, and I must be willing to go. Because if I do not go, I cannot love. THIRD: Love. Love the crap out of people! God has literally loved the crap (my sinful heart, attitude, and mind) out of me (and yes, He's still in the process). But if we pray, then we must go, and if we have prayed and we do go, we can't help but love. Again, it comes to balance.
How's Your Equilibrium
In life, there must be balance, or we go nuts. Think about the man who works 80 hour weeks and never takes a holiday. In the grand scheme of life, is he really more productive than the man who enjoys his weekends off, who enjoys a holiday with his family now and again? Does he live a more fulfilling life? Does he enjoy life as much as the next person? No, of course not, because he doesn't have a life. He has a job. (Refer back to the 80 hour week). On the flip side, if someone is always a couch potato are they going to have drive and ambition? Not for long! It's all about balance.
This isn't something I'm coming up with on my own. Sure, I'm experiencing it, but as you know there's nothing new under the sun. What is being done has been done. Look at Jesus' life. He took time to be alone with the Father (Luke 5:16). He spent time with brothers and sisters (Matt. 26:20). He went (more like came down) and loved (really, just read the Gospels).
If the Messiah, our Saviour, Jesus, didn't try to do it all on His own, but talked with the Father, spent time with disciples, and reached out in love...who am I to try to live any differently? Who are we to live differently? But then again, in today's society, that is living differently. And perhaps that's what we all need. We all need a balanced life. We all need Jesus, each other, and to share His love. And maybe, just maybe, because of that difference, that balanced life, even more will come to know Jesus. Let's talk with Him about it, encourage and support each other in it, and go love (I mean tell) somebody about it!
