Finding Balance in a Life of Grace
This article reflects on the challenge of living a balanced life amid competing demands. Drawing from Ecclesiastes, the example of Jesus, and the realities of church leadership, it points readers toward grace rather than extremes.
- Balance is difficult because life brings competing responsibilities and tensions.
- Ecclesiastes warns against destructive extremes and points toward fearing God.
- Jesus’ growth in wisdom, stature, and favor offers a picture of whole-person maturity.
By David Faust
Nutritionists advise, “Eat a balanced diet.” But what does that mean? The food pyramid keeps shifting. A simple breakfast makes you weigh conflicting advice. “Don’t eat eggs” has switched to “eggs are good for you.” Butter has re-emerged as a healthier alternative to processed trans-fats. Once shunned for its caffeine, coffee is now applauded.
Does it balance the scale if you wash down a 1,000-calorie burger with a zero-calorie diet soda? Does a kale salad cancel out a serving of French fries?
Competing Tensions
The pursuit of balance impacts more than diet. How can you find the right combination of work and rest? How much time should you spend with friends versus time spent alone?
Years ago, I wrote a book called Growing Gracefully: How to Lead a Growing Church and Live a Balanced Life. The book has two main parts: “The Graceful Church” (how churches can experience and exemplify God’s grace) and “The Graceful Leader” (how church leaders can be effective without burning out).
In the book’s opening pages, I explained that my life as a church leader hasn’t been a picnic, but it has resembled a circus. At times I have felt like a trapeze artist, moving fast and hanging on for dear life. I have been a juggler, handling the diverse roles of husband, father, preacher, teacher, decision-maker, and friend. Encountering difficult people has increased my appreciation for lion tamers. But mostly, this circus called ministry has made me feel like a tightrope walker trying to keep my balance.
A blazing pace threatens to replace amazing grace. Divergent voices clamor for attention. How can we balance church responsibilities with family responsibilities? Motivational speakers urge us to work hard, lead boldly, and serve sacrificially. Doctors and counselors remind us to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional health. Preachers call us to be faithful to Scripture and pursue holiness and prayer. Worthy causes ask for help. How can we balance all these competing demands?
Christ’s Example
King Solomon wrestled with similar questions long ago, and he offered this cynical-sounding advice: “Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time? . . . Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18, New International Version). Are you surprised the Bible says, “Do not be over-righteous”? Evidently this refers to legalistic righteousness based on human effort (like the self-righteous Pharisees). Going to extremes won’t prolong our lives, increase our satisfaction, or honor the Lord.
If you want an example of a well-balanced life, consider how Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)—a perfect blend of intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social wholeness. But even Jesus “grew” in these qualities, so while balance is an aspirational goal for us, it’s not necessarily something we figure out all at once or have all the time. At one point in his ministry, Jesus’ family worried he was unbalanced (Mark 3:20-21). And the apostle Paul said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). Some might consider those words rather extreme!
I want to keep growing, but on this side of heaven I may never find a perfect blend of family man/church leader, decision maker/caring shepherd, introvert/extrovert, hard worker/sabbath observer. I’m just glad the Lord’s amazing grace has saved an unbalanced wretch like me.
This is the fifth in a series of articles based on the book of Ecclesiastes. Next week: “The Day of Death” (Ecclesiastes 7-9).
