Jesus Maintained a Well-Balanced Life

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

Without the help of the LORD it is useless to build a home or to guard a city. It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.—Psalm 127:1-2 (CEV)

For Insight

It doesn’t matter how early we get up or how late we go to sleep in order to pursue the business of the day or accomplish some task, unless we have God’s divine blessing on whatever we are attempting nothing will come from all our efforts. We can work and work, work days, nights, weekends, and holidays but unless God has blessed it, all our hard work won’t produce anything. Human thought says the more we need to accomplish our day the earlier we should rise or the later we should stay up.

Solomon put it so wisely when he wrote, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And he adds no sorrow to it.” (Prov. 10:22).  Only the blessing of God on our work or activities will result in a blessed and desired outcome. We’ll know when we are in line God with God’s will and plans for our life because of the doors God opens, the energy he supplies, the guidance he provides through the Holy Spirit and the fruit of our efforts.

Jesus wasn’t stressed nor overworked in life. He was not lazy, nor was he a workaholic. He knew how to balance work and rest. He took time to visit with friends and enjoy people. He was available to and ministered to others, but he also respected the limitations that came with being God-man and took time to get away from the crowds. He did not ignore the fact that he was also human with human needs such as sleep, relaxation, following a nutritious diet, enjoy healthy friendships, and commune with God daily. He observed all the things that are needed to live and enjoy a mentally, emotionally, relationally and spiritually balanced life.

We are reminded through Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians that God has purposely made us in three parts: spirit, soul and body and we need to care for each part (I Thess. 5:23).     

God’s blessing on our work and activities does not mean we won’t experience challenges or that the enemy won’t try to block what we are doing. God’s blessings don’t mean smooth sailing, but that God will make sure what he has blessed and ordained will happen, not based upon our hard work and effort but upon his desires and plans. So, it won’t matter how early we rise or late we stay up it’s the blessing of God that makes our efforts and work fruitful.

Thank you Lord, for blessing our work and the fruit that comes from what you bless. Help us to live and enjoy a well-balanced life. Amen    

Application:

On a scale of 1-10 how well are you doing with living a well-balanced life? in addition to Jesus, who inspires you to live a more balanced life?

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