How did Jesus live a balanced life? - Balance - TouchPoints
John 5:30I can do nothing on my own. . . . I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
Jesus’ life here on earth was willingly surrendered to his Father’s purposes. Since God created life, he knows best how our lives should be lived. The Bible, God’s Word, tells us exactly how to live a life of balance in accordance with God’s will.
Luke 2:52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
Jesus grew and matured in the various essential dimensions of life: physically, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially. Focusing only on one or two of these areas can throw the others out of balance. Healthy living accounts for all of these.
John 2:1-2The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.
Part of the whole and healthy life Jesus lived included his awareness of and participation in celebrations. He understood and encouraged joy in every circumstance of life, including a local wedding ceremony.
Mark 6:31-32Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
Jesus saw the importance of spending time with people, and he likewise knew the importance of rest and reflection. Life should have a balance of work and rest, investment in people and quiet time for restoration. Balance assumes full participation in opposite extremes, not some kind of halfhearted middle ground. A life of only rest or activity leads to dullness. The balance between a quiet place and the crowd’s noise isn’t a constant low roar. Rather, it includes healthy engagement and refreshing retreats.
Luke 5:16Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Consider the word “often” in this verse. Jesus modeled a life balanced by involvement and withdrawal, action and reflection, mission and meditation, effort and spiritual reenergizing. This pace allowed him to remain open to God’s direction instead of being distracted by continual human demands. Balance helps you realize that activities and even opportunities are not necessarily God’s plan for you.