Are you a balanced person? When I think of someone who is balanced, I think of a person who has everything under control. They have found a way to make their relationships with God, spouse, children and community blend together. They spend the appropriate amounts of time at work, at home, and in recreation. This person doesn’t put too much emphasis on any one area of his life that could potentially overshadow his other priorities.
The Bible has something to say about balance. II Peter chapter 1 talks about building upon our salvation and growing in Christ. It says to “add to your virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance…” That word “temperance” is often misinterpreted. Some people see the word and think of the “Temperance Movement” and assume that Christians should not drink. While I do not disagree with the thought, that is not what this word “temperance” means. Most modern translations render the word “temperance” as “self-control”. I agree that self-control is encompassed in temperance, but I believe there is more to the description.
I Corinthians says that Godly people must strive to be temperate in all things. The root word of “temperance” is “temper”. Often if we hear someone say, “I have a temper” we think that is a bad thing. This is not so, for the problem comes when a person loses his temper. We all ought to have a temper that is even, moderate and balanced.
Temperance does not mean that we should be content in our faith. We should not be at ease and laid-back in the things of God. Rather, we should zealously seek after God and work to bring the lost to Him. We need to be sure we are loving, kind and gentle in our approach. We should never treat people brashly in the name of evangelism.
The Bible exhorts us to be temperate, balanced people. Are you heeding the call?
What Satan Wants You to Believe: Part 1