The Issue of Balance

Eastford Baptist Church
July 13, 2006

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

“The Issue of Balance”
One of the most important indicators of any successful business is a balance sheet. This tool helps accountants and business owners determine the company's financial condition at a specific point in time. A balance sheet includes a listing of assets, liabilities and net worth. In simple terms, it shows if the income is keeping up with the outflow. A balance sheet is an essential tool that helps keep the focus of a business in check. Successful people, like successful businesses, need a regular time built into their lives to assess their priorities and keep their lives in check. We need a balance sheet to make sure that our focus is clear and our engine is running on all cylinders.

In the Old Testament, God instituted a regular time every week for people to step aside and examine who they are and what they do. God knew that life could get hectic and things could easily get out of balance so he established the principle of the Sabbath. In Exodus 20, God placed this principle in our lives to help us stay focused and live balanced lives. He created us to be more than what we do, so the principle of the Sabbath provides us with a physical change. We get out of the work environment and see life from a different perspective. It also provides us with an emotional change by infusing our lives with a look at a different value system, different language patterns and different music. The Sabbath also provides us with an opportunity to recharge our spirits as we connect with God and understand who He is.

Without a regular Sabbath, we'll begin to lose perspective on the true meaning of life. We'll get to the place where all we care about are bigger barns, more deals, and higher yields. We'll be worn-out physically, burned-out emotionally, and out-of-touch spiritually. We'll be caught in a downward spiral that weakens our marriages, our families, our friendships, our health, and even our moral convictions. I've learned that what you do with six days a week determines what you live on. What you do with Sunday determines the life you live.

Every business person knows that a balance sheet doesn’t just happen. It’s a task that requires regular attention. Imagine the kind of mess a business gets into when the books haven’t been properly kept for a couple of months. Now imagine the kind of mess a person gets into because each week is lived without realigning our point of view with God’s perspective. Keeping a regular time of worship is part of God’s plan for keeping balance in our life. If an audit was performed on your book of life, would it reveal His kind of balance? Or would there be several glaring omissions? Maybe it’s time to bring balance back by following His plan.

Blessings on you,
PT