I. INTRODUCTION:
A. The importance of balance illustrated by our physical bodies.
1. Equilibrium
2. Vertigo
3. Children learning to ride a bike
B. As adults, we learn the importance, and struggle at times, of balancing our priorities.
C. Balance in our spiritual lives is not “just as important,” it is MORE important!
II. Worldly Balance
A. Not just “in the middle.”
1. Everyone – whether conservative or liberal – always considers themselves to be “in the middle,” and balanced.
2. No one thinks of themselves – from their own perspective – as a “radical” going way out to the left or right.
3. For example, think about where the world would put “the middle” balance in moral issues like homosexuality, fornication, beverage alcohol, etc.
a) The world would consider us as WAY out of balance to the right of these issues.
b) The worldly mind can’t even comprehend how we can think our view is the “balanced” view.
4. There are even those in the Lord’s church saying that we can’t know who’s scales are the correct measure of balance.
B. Israel’s desire for a king is a good example of worldly balance (1 Samuel 8).
1. They wanted a king to be like the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5, 19-20).
2. Their desire for a king had nothing to do with God’s will but their own desire (cf. Genesis 49:10; 1 Sam. 13:14; 16:7, 12; Acts 13:22).
3. Their idea of balance was based on the standards of the world instead of the standards of God’s word!
III. Biblical Balance
A. Biblical balance can be summed up as “the true perspective of right and wrong.”
B. This balance is not based on any individual’s or culture’s standards.
C. It is based solely on the standard of God’s word!
1. 1 John 1:7
2. Isaiah 55:8, 9
3. Hebrews 13:8
D. It is important that we do not bind where God has not bound nor loose where He has not loosed.
1. We must stay right where he put the balance, neither to the right or the left (Deut. 5:32, 33).
a) The Pharisees of Jesus day were adding to the word of God (Matt. 23:4).
b) The Sadducees were taking away from the word (Mark 12:18).
c) Jesus warned His disciples to beware the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:6, 12).
d) They were BOTH out of balance with God’s word – one to the right (binding), the other to the left (loosing).
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Prove all things!
3. 1 John 4:1
adapted from “DISTINCTIVE BALANCE” By Glenn Colley in “A Return to Distinctive Christianity,” 1991 East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions Lectureship, pg. 129
Leave a Reply