Balancing Act

I love the reminder of my garden: How God clothes the plants in beauty in its season. They don't need to worry about doing too little or too much... they can just be- resting in the craftsmanship of their Creator. In Luke 12, Jesus says to the crowds they should consider the birds- how they are being fed- and that we are far more valuable. God takes care of the birds, how much more then, will He take care of us, the pinnacle of His creation! We do not need to be anxious. We cannot add or alter the span of our lives (in other words, Jesus is saying, we don't know or control the future), so why worry about tomorrow... or next month or  next year! Rather, we should trust Him who does know AND control the future.

I just need to live a balanced life. 

Balance is defined as equal amounts. A little of that, then a little of this.

A little bit of presumption. And a little bit of self-preservation... and voila! A healthy balanced life. The yin and the yang. 

I have heard this countless' times: Live a 'Balanced life'... At school, your were seen as a balanced aka properly functioning kid if you did a sport, was doing well in academics and doing some cultural activity such as drama or music. The kids who could juggle these in equal amounts, were the ones most likely to succeed. Or so I was taught.

But I have come to realize that there is nothing balanced about life. It does not exist. ... the golden pot at the end of a rainbow... Like it says in Ecclesiastes: a chasing after the wind. *Good luck at finding it*

Besides, when we try to live a balanced life, we are back at square one: trusting ourselves; making ourselves king of our time and efforts. SELF SUFFICIENT. And as a result we constantly move from presumption to self preservation and vice versa. Reactive rather than pro-active, for we do not know what the future holds. We cannot control it. So we 'knee-jerk'. And this 'knee-jerk', reactive movement causes even more restlessness and stress and anxiety.

No, we need to pursue Christ and from our relationship with Him, be strengthened in the task He has appointed us to. We need to pursue Christ to find our direction. Only in Christ do we find steadfastness, a mental and emotional steadiness and stability. These words define a healthy life far better than the word 'balance' because balance is all about equal and proper amounts.

Actually, there is nothing proper (or equal) about being a Christian. Just ask Paul who got beaten, stoned, imprisoned, mocked, scorned. Or David, dancing with 'subordinates' he was not suppose to associate with.

2Ti 1:9  ... (God) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 

A very good example, even one to demonstrate to our kids: is the sand-rock-jar experiment. Try to fit a rock into a jar that has already been filled with sand and it is impossible. But, when you put the rock first and then add the sand, somehow, the sand manages to fit with the rock! So, too, our lives, when we put Christ, our rock and solid foundation, first, all other necessary things will fit into our lives. 

When we are permeated by Christ, then our natural expression and doing, will be His doing. 

*** Extra Questions:

But Liezl, is God not all about opposites? Lion and Lamb? Beginning and End. These opposites are to describe our incredible God to us but He is not a Lamb, then a Lion. No, He is both, simultaneously! He is both judge and gracious. He is both the beginning and the end... it is hard for us to fully comprehend this. He is both the start of life and the end of life. In fact, I do not believe that we will ever be able to comprehend God fully or figure Him out completely. His ways are far higher, far above our ways and thought-capabilities. He is the one and only true God. GOD. There is so much power in the name of Jesus. We cannot even contain it in our thinking.

Like Kim Walker-Smith sings in her song: 'My heart cannot contain the weight of Your name, and all I can say is Holy Holy Holy are You." 

Amen to that.

That said, God is NOT all about opposites. There are some opposite imagery that describes God, but we need to be careful of adding opposites to God that is not biblically correct. We need to stick to the description of God as we find in the Bible and not add our own to it and create a blanket statement like "God is all about opposites". He is not. That is new age mysticism that has crept into the church. Yes, the Yin and Yang is alive and well in the church! And even I am guilty of this secular thought, for example:"Last year was prosperous, so now God is just bringing balance by giving me a disastrous year." *Wrong* God is not all about opposites and He is definitely not into balance either.

Liezl, I don't know about this... you know, really putting Christ first. I mean, as a Christian I know that I should and we all sit on Sundays nodding in agreement but... in reality, I just don't know how is that going to make a difference?

Good question. Here is what God's Word says: Luk 12:11-12  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,  for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

The Holy Spirit will teach. This is the key. In putting Christ first, we are actually saying that we commit our ways to the Holy Spirit's direction and teaching.

It carries on in that same chapter...

Luk 12:29-31  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For the world seeks after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Seek instead, His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

The Holy Spirit knows what we need and exactly at what time! A very good way to start putting Christ first is to ask the Holy Spirit to highlight priorities for the week. The Holy Spirit guides me by giving me this sense that I need to make more effort with my kids in the evenings, for example. Or He would press it on my heart that I need to talk kinder with my husband or be more intentional when engaging strangers at the shop. For me personally, I have to set time aside to hear His voice (through prayer, reading of scriptures and just becoming still in His presence). And making that moment the most important thing in my week, is part of putting Christ first. Then, from there, I live with a constant awareness of the Holy Spirit and continually commune with Him through my day. Like Joyce Meyer so aptly says "I am constantly straightening out my priorities".

Mat 6:33-34  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

Liezl, what is the Kingdom of God? 

Simply put: it is where the Holy Spirit rules and reigns. 

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking- in other words- it is not a physical kingdom, but rather, the expression of Christ's rule through the way we behave. When I am filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the King of my life, then I will conduct myself with kindness, joy, peace, humility and so forth... I will act in obedience to my King. Obedient to the Holy Spirit's direction and teaching.

And our acts of obedience changes the atmosphere that we find ourselves in. In other words, our kindness toward a hostile person can disarm them and soften their hearts. Our joy, midst economic instability, can bring a peace to our office environment that is beyond understanding. Our obedience in respecting and submitting to our husbands, can change our family environment. 

When we are permeated by Christ, through the Holy Spirit, then our natural expression and doing, will be His doing.