Bread – Balance

Readings for Monday, April 23, designated by the 1979 Book of Common Prayer: Exod. 18:13-27; 1 Pet. 5:1-14; Matt. 1:1-17, 3:1-6; Psalms 9, 15, 25

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Every time I read the Bible I pick up something new. Today it is this from Matthew 1:17 – “So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.” 14-14-14 – balance.

[Taking an aside from the main topic today, isn’t this proof that God is in control?]

Exodus today speaks to the characteristics of “able men.” Peter speaks today to the characteristics of “elders.” Neither are descriptions of extremes; both are descriptions of balanced living when the center is God. In Exodus, the description of able men includes those who are wise (see Deut. 1:13), understanding (Deut. 1:13), experienced (Deut. 1:13), trustworthy and will not be bribed (Exod. 18:21), and who fear God (Exod. 18:21). In 1 Peter, the description of elders include those who exercise leadership willingly (1 Pet. 5:2), do not take “shameful gain” (1 Pet. 5:2), and who lead by example and not by dominating (1 Pet. 5:3).

Is there anything in these descriptions which suggests extreme forms of behavior? [from Satan’s (or the world’s) side of the ledger, he might consider the failure to take shameful gain to be extreme behavior, but we are looking at this from the Christian side].

Balance and order are characteristics of God and they are characteristic of the able men of God.

Is your life unbalanced today? Does the busyness overwhelm time for relationship? Does the need to get things done force us to dominate those who depend on us rather than let us take the time to shepherd them? Does our lifestyle require us to continually reap gain, or does it permit us to distribute that gain wisely instead of consuming it?

There are many possible questions cutting across our personal, business, economic, professional, family, and other lives, but they all amount to the same question. Are we living a balanced and orderly life? Are we acting like who we are supposed to be – able men and elders?

Now there may be a tendency here to equate balance with “lukewarmness.” Jesus warns us against being lukewarm, of being neither fish nor fowl. This is why it is important to see where the description of able men begins – “men who fear God.” “Men who fear God” are not lukewarm; they know whose they are and why they are. They know the importance of being centered in the right place, on solid rock. But they are balanced, at least to the extent they don’t try to control it themselves.

When God is first, balance and order follow. Lukewarmness does not follow.

So, like I asked, are we unbalanced today? If so, we need only to ask ourselves who do we fear, God or our spouse, God or our boss, God or our customer, God or ourselves?

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