Balancing a life of ministry is challenging, but it is not impossible. A large portion of the difficulty is summed up by Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” When we decide that our way is best, it could be that pride is about to precede a fall. The Preacher penned Ecclesiastes 9:11 as a reminder:
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
No matter how hard or long you work (thinking your way is best), if you are working against God’s principles, you work in vain.
Living in harmony with God’s principles will lead us to a fulfilled life and balanced ministry in His kingdom. The principles of God win out over time. Principles govern the long-term outcome of everything. We must work with principles for them to benefit us, If we work against principles, they will work against us. For example: I labor with gravity to accomplish my work rather than struggle against it. The law (principle) of gravity wins in the long-term and helps me produce a good result. God set the universe in motion by His wisdom and His principles now govern everything.
How about your Sabbath rest, how do you accomplish this ‘principle’ in God’s economy? What of prayer and relationship with God (and others), is there time in your schedule for these? His relational principles will benefit you greatly and help you ‘win’ overall, just like cooperating with natural principles.
Don’t burn out or stall out because you are working hard against yourself! Jesus chose the 12 to “be with Him”. If you are called to serve Him, don’t miss out on your time alone with Him by being too busy.
