A Balanced Life
I.
Three contents of life (Gen 26:25)
A.
Build an altar - spiritual life
B.
Pitch a tent - family life
1.
Live a blameless life in family (Ps 101:2)
a.
Build ourselves in love (Eph )
b.
Maintain order
c.
Fulfill each one’s duty
2.
Build a spiritual bond
a.
God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Mt )
b.
A place to share, care and enjoy together
C.
Dig a well - career life or school life
II.
Balanced life
A.
God created a balanced world (Gen 1)
1.
It is good & blessed (Gen ,22)
2.
It was lost when Aden sinned (Gen 2)
3.
Life needs to be restored in Christ (2Cor 5:17)
a.
Soul & body (Mt 4:4; Amos )
b.
Spiritual need & material need
B.
Set priorities
1.
Concept of value (Deut 6:4-9)
a.
Awareness of identity
b.
Realign the concept of value
2.
Understand life: goal & purpose (1Thess
1:9,10)
3.
Treasure the opportunity
a.
Loving God (Lk 24:1-3;
Jn 12:8)
b.
Loving family (Gen 23:2)
c.
Acquiring knowledge
C.
Exercise self-control (Gal 5:21,22)
1.
Esau was famished (Gen 25:30)
2.
Solomon’s life was in vain (Eccl 2:10-11)
D.
Not mutually exclusive
1.
This life and the life to come (2Cor -18)
2.
Bodily training and discipline of godliness
(1Tim 4:8)
3.
Kingdom
of God and daily
necessity (Mt 6:31-33)
4.
Life and food (Mt 6:25)
III.
The balance between faith and family
A.
Do not be over righteous (Ecc
7:6)
1.
Alienate the family member (Mt )
2.
Decline of decedent’s faith (1 Sam 8:1-5)
B.
Balance the two lives
1.
Love family members (1 Tim 5:3; 3:4, 5, 12)
2.
Do not love family over the Lord (Mt 10:7)
When there is conflict
3.
Offering and caring parent (Mk 7:11-13)
Do not over do it (2 Cor 9:6,7)
IV.
The balance between career and family
A.
Workaholic
1.
Bring the work home - still at work
2.
Discuss work at home - still in office
3.
Only focus on work - no position for family
B.
Work at home
1.
No rest – easily angered
2.
Silence - no interpersonal relationship
3.
Break the marriage and harm the children
C.
Correct attitude
1.
At office - work first
2.
At home - family first
3.
Difficulties in work?
a.
Ask God for wisdom (1Kings 3:9)
b.
Trust the Lord (Ps 37:5; 4:7,8; Mt 14:25-31)
D.
Lay aside the burden
1.
Relax
2.
Rest (Mk 6:31)
3.
Recreation
a.
Family reunion
b.
Elevate quality of life
