The Key to a Balanced Life: Jesus

In review of Matthew 6:33 it says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well” (NCV).

Today’s passage comes from Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus gives me reasons not to worry. Jesus tells me not to worry about everyday life, whether I have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to war. Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing? Can all of your worries add a single moment to your life. If God cares wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things, your heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

There are ill effects of worry, Jesus tells me not to worry above those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may (1) damage my health, (2) disrupt my productivity, (3) negatively affect the way I treat others, and (4) reduce my ability to trust in God. There is a difference between worry and genuine concern; worry immobilizes, but concern moves me to action.

To "seek the Kingdom of God above all else" means to put God first in my life, to fill my thought with his desires, to take his character for my pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important to me? People, objects, goals, and other desires all complete for priority. Any of these can quickly become more important to me if I don't actively choose to give God first place in every area of my life.

Also planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect my relationship with God today.

As such, If I want to live a truly balanced life, I can only look at one person in all of history as a model: Jesus. If I put him at the center of my life, my life will be more balanced.

Think of your life like a wheel. The center of the wheel is a hub. All of the spokes of my life (which represent your relationships, your family, your career, your goals, etc.) come from that hub. We all build our lives around some sort of hub. The question is, what will be your hub? Will it be your family? Will it be your career? Will it be money? Or will it be Jesus?

How do you know what you’re building your life around? Take a look at whatever I think about the most. That’s what is driving me.

The center of my life is critical to developing a balanced life. A solid center leads to a solid life. A weak, flimsy center leads to a weak life. When people say or believe that their lives are coming unglued, it usually means one thing: They have a faulty center. Something other than God has taken priority in their lives.

Not only does the hub create stability, but it also controls and influences everything else about my life. Whatever I put at the center of your life will also be my source of power. The power of a wheel always emanates from the center outward — never the other way around.

Make Jesus the center of my life, and he’ll provide the stability, control, and power I need for my life. The Bible says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well” (Matthew 6:33 NCV).

I don’t need to worry about putting Jesus first. When I put him in the center I allow him to direct my life, influence it, empower it, and give it stability. Do this, and all the other areas of life — from family, career and goals will find balance in Jesus.

Bottom Line:

Seek first God and his purposes for you. When you do this, he will meet any needs you have.

What this means to me:

I am to put God and his purpose first in every part of my life. He promises me that if I do, he will meet all of my needs. I won’t need to worry about how they will be met.

In summary, I don't need to worry, if I put Jesus first in my life and make him the center (or hub), God will take care of my needs. When I put him first, I fill my thoughts with his desires, take on his character for my pattern and serve / obey him in everything he will take care of the rest. It's good to plan ahead (think ahead about steps, schedules, and trusting in God's guidance), when done well it can help to alleviate worry. Having Jesus as the center is critical to developing a balanced life. He'll provide the stability, control, and power I need for my life.

Thank you Father for this reminder. I want to make Jesus the center of my life. This morning Father I pray for you guidance as I plan. Please help me interact well with those around me. Help me to lead my team to accomplish the goals and tasks we have. In Jesus name I pray, amen!