A Healthy Balance, Part 2
Several weeks ago, I began a series of articles about having a healthy balance in matters pertaining to God. I encourage you to read part 1 if you have not already, as it provides a general scope for these lessons. Today we will consider a balance between God and the world. Consider these biblical thoughts.
- “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4.4).
- “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2.15-16).
What are we to make of passages like these? Well, we should probably begin by defining the word “world.” After all, many of us are familiar with the beginning of John 3.16, which states, “For God so loved the world…” They seem to contradict one another. However, the context of each text helps define the world for us. In John 3.16, the Father gave Jesus to the world as a gift. We also know that He died for the world. In other words, the world in John 3.16 simply stands for the people of this world. God gave a special gift to the inhabitants of this planet.
That is obviously not the same meaning for world in the above texts. Given the context of these passages, the basic idea would be closer to the things of this world that are not of God. John’s description above of all that is in the world, such as fleshly desires and pride, direct us toward this conclusion. Also, we must realize that John’s description includes more than just what we commonly think of as evil. It’s not evil to have a hobby, but if that hobby assumes priority in your life over everything else, including God, then this hobby fits the idea of loving the world.
Please notice that John creates an either/or scenario. If one loves the things of the world, then the love of the Father is not in him. So, if I can borrow the idea of Jesus, what is the proper balance of being in this world and not of this world or loving certain things in this world without actually loving the world? The answer is given in a text we know well – the greatest commandment. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22.37).
The practical application of this is found in Matthew 6.33. We are to seek first the kingdom of God. If we allow ourselves to view our time spent on things of this world and kingdom priorities on an equal plane, then we are missing the point. As a Christian, you died to yourself so that you could pursue a new life – a life completely guided by the Lord whom you confessed. A healthy balance is finding fulfillment, joy, and peace in a life that ALWAYS prioritizes God. This is the context which should drive our time, money, etc. While kingdom priorities should never take a backseat to anything, I can still find opportunities to play a relaxing round of golf. The issue is what actually guides your life? Are you a Christian that has occasional times for regular life that are not directly related to God? Or, are you another person of the world who carves out a little bit of time for church?
One represents a proper balance. The other does not. My prayer is that you find the peace of God that only comes when this balance is fully embraced.