The Need for Balance

Revelation 3:2

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

When God addressed the church of Sardis, He cautioned this church to strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. This church became focused on one thing and let the other things die, not realizing that everything they did was what made them successful. God commanded this church to look at what was lacking and work on it so that it does not die.

One of the great keys of the ministry is balance. Throughout my life, I have watched churches fall for the latest fad in Christianity, only to allow the rest of the ministry to die. I remember when the Christian school became the great focus of every church. They started their Christian schools to keep the children out of the public schools, but the problem was many of these churches stopped their focus on reaching the lost and became a dead church because their whole focus was on the Christian school.

I have watched churches that are avid soul winning churches not stay focused on following up on those they lead to Christ, only to struggle and eventually give up on soul winning because they did not follow all of the Great Commission to win people to Christ, get them baptized, and then train them so they can be sent out. Many churches have died because they were focused on the training and stopped the soul winning. All of the Great Commission is critical if we are to build thriving churches. It takes balance in the ministry to fulfill the Great Commission.

Balance is necessary in life so that we don't allow good things in our ministries to die. A good pastor is constantly surveying his ministry to see which area is lacking and will give attention to that area so that it does not die. However, he must also not neglect the other areas of the ministry so that they don't die. It takes balance to make the ministry work. Living a balanced life is key not only for the ministry, but also for your life. Let me share a couple things to help you keep life in every area of your ministry and life.

First, be watchful of your ministry and life to be sure that nothing is dying. You cannot be passive about the ministry and life and be balanced at the same time. You must be vigilant about looking for what is beginning to die and work in that area so that it does not die.

Second, strengthen the areas that begin to wane. If you wait until something dies to rebuild it, you will lose what you have. The key to being balanced is to immediately give attention to something that begins to slip so that it continues to be what God expects it to be.

Third, don't make sharp changes, but make gradual changes. Balance is like driving a car; you make little changes when needed to keep a straight line toward the mark God has called you to do. Those who make sharp changes crash; it is always better to make small corrections to those areas that are weakening so that every area stays strong.

Fourth, don't give up on one to let the other live. Don't allow yourself to get enamored with one thing; all things God commands us to do are essential. If you start something, don't quit doing what has brought you this far. The key to balance is adding and not quitting. Adding allows you to do more, but be watchful of the other things so they don't die.