A Balanced Life

Intro

Balancing acts

life is a big balancing act

as we are trying to balance everything together, we are thrown other things we must juggle.

yet we live in a world of extremes which do not end well to balance

Balance in Justice (1-3)

injustice

all around us

CA churches can’t meet inside indefinitely

Oppression

tears of the oppressed

contrast to last verse in chapter 3

power in one group exercised over the other to subject them not protect them

human trafficking, modern day slavery, pregnant mothers, people of a different skin color, etc

(kids laying money on stage with 17 yr old fighting modern day slavery)

better not to be born at all than to witness this treatment of fellow man

Balance in justice is that evil action is punished, the innocent live free, and personal vendettas and biases never a part of it

Balance in Labor (4-8)

Wiersbe labeled these as

Industrious man, idle man, integrated man, and independent man.

industrious (4)

seeks only to beat out another

jealousy, rivalry

not satisfied with what God has given him

Idle (5-6)

from one extreme to the other

lazy, only does just enough

folds hands in idleness only to destroy himself

idleness brings destruction

integrated (6)

well balanced with work and play

independent (7-8)

working for no one, alone

desires more things, not realizing that his heart truly longs for companionship

our work must be balanced

work and play

The industrious man thinks that money will bring him peace, but he has no time to enjoy it. The idle man thinks that doing nothing will bring him peace, but his life-style only destroys him. The integrated man enjoys both his labor and the fruit of his labor and balances toil with rest. You can take what you want from life, but you must pay for it.

nothing wrong with strong work ethic,

but focusing on only work while forsaking everyone and everything else is not good.

Balance in relationship (9-12)

created to be in community

“it is not good for man to be alone”

1st crisis in the Bible

friendship is one area of life the teacher never says is “futile”

(importance of friendship to me)

you need friends, you need strength, the christian is to live in community with other believers, to have friendships

Balance in Ambition (13-16)

an old king who has forgotten his past and rise to power

will be overthrown by another who has walked that path

you may seek ambition, you may run after the next rung on that ladder

but remember, there is another generation behind you, that will replace you

the message here

ambition is good, but like everything else, moderation is key

never forget your journey, know that there is life going on around you, so don’t miss it

you will not always have your position, so use it wisely and help those coming after you succeed

Conclusion

in a world of extremes, find the balance

God created joy, he created pleasure for those he created in his image

use it wisely

God did not create us then leave us

he wants great and incredible things for you

be balanced

Sin tells us pleasure is all that matters

if it feels good, it can’t be wrong

but it only destroys

freedom from sin through Christ

says i gave you pleasure and toil so that you have balance

freedom from eternal consequences of sin

Christ came to give us life more abundant

more than just one sided pleasures

but of balance, of freedom, of forgiveness, of hope, and of peace

He offers that to you, this morning

stop pursuing what only destroys

pursue Christ.