Read: Matthew 22:34-40 | Colossians 3:23-24, I consider myself a blessed person. Throughout my life, God
has provided people whose teachings and good example have had a positive impact
on me and to some extent have molded me into the person I am becoming today. One
of those very special people was my maternal grandmother – “abuela” Gloria.
Abuela always had a word of wisdom to share with her grandchildren, when we
needed it the most.
When I was about 23 years old, I decided that I wanted to
further my education. I made this decision while my first child was 2 months
old, and in addition to all the responsibilities with my family, work and church.
When I began my school work, I felt stretch beyond I originally estimated.
One afternoon, over a cup of coffee, I poured out by heart
and confessed to my grandmother that given everything that was happening in my
life, I was feeling that my spiritual life was getting out of balance, and as a
result, other things where starting to get out of control.
Abuela, upon hearing my confession, remained silent for a
minute, and then with the sweetness, and spiritual authority that characterized
her, said to me – “Hector Antonio, let’s
get something clear: when it comes to your faith (spiritual life), it is not
about achieving balance. It is about getting your priorities right!
The text we read from the Gospel of Matthew (22:34-40), takes us to consider an occasion where Jesus, when questioned
by one of the experts of Jewish law about what was the most important commandment,
answered by saying:
You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all
your mind. This is the greatest and
first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You will love your neighbor as
yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
You see, Jesus’ answer to the expert of the law (and to us)
is simple, yet complex and challenging at the same time.
Reality is, never in the Bible we will find a call to balance
when it comes to how we relate to God. Jesus didn’t say, “love God, with part
of your soul”. Or aim to “make a balance between mind and heart”. When asked about
what was most important – Jesus began his answer with: Love God with ALL. There is not much balance language there, right?
Hey, and I know that
proposing a shift from balance to priorities, can create the perception of this
principle being in tension with what we have learned so far in our journey
about seeking to be balanced persons - but I am fine with that tension. As a
musician, I know, and was reminded recently by a good friend, that the most
beautiful music emerges out of a place of tension. This is true for most
instruments (especially string and percussion instruments). So, if what I am proposing
it making you tense, I invite you to rather than discarding my proposition, to hold
on to that tension, for a little longer. Perhaps, new Holy Spirit-filled and
inspired music will emerge out of that tension.
Friends, when it comes
to our faith: It’s not about balance. It is about getting our priorities right!
First, the
possibility of balance, abundance and wholeness, it’s just an illusion outside
of a relationship with God, as we have come to understand it in our tradition through
Jesus Christ, were God is FIRST and at the CENTER. Jesus clarified this for us
when he said: “I have come so that you can have life abundantly” and later
clarified “outside of me, you can’t do anything.”
Second, the
pursue of balance, happiness and fulfillment for our own sake and benefit, is
not only selfish, is also unattainable. We were created for much more than
self-preservation. We were created with a purpose, to love God, and to love God’s
people. We already know what happens when we put ourselves above God’s purpose
for our lives (if not, ask Adam and Eve).
Third, we
can’t negotiate ourselves to balance. We can’t pick which pieces of God’s
commandments we act on or to what degree. It’s not buffet style where we take
what we want, and leave the other things behind. God does not want “parts of us”.
God wants the first, best and ALL of who we are.
So, to find true balance in our lives, we need to first let go of
ourselves, shift our center, and go “all-in” for Christ! This radical shift in
priorities, is the first shift, and the only real hope we have at a balanced
life.
Take a deep breath! I know that was a
lot to take in. But then there is more.
We can’t love God, or go all in for
Christ in a bubble. Our relational God created us to be in relationship with
one another. That’s why Jesus’ answer to the expert continued: “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself”. And before
you start feeling great about this second part, I must clarify that later Jesus
himself raised the bar when it comes to loving our neighbor when he said to his
disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.” In
other words, Go ALL IN for GOD, and go ALL IN for your neighbor.
I believe that when we put these two principles
together, we learn that “balance” in God’s economy, is not about balance, 50/50,
70/30 or event 99/1 - it’s about centering our lives on one RADICAL PRIORITY: 100% in for God, and
100% in for People.
When we embrace this radical priority,
as our ideal, the Holy Spirit then leads us to experience and grow in our faith
in ways we never imagined before. When we go all in for GOD, we are led to go
deeper in the practice of our spiritual disciplines, and we go wider, opening
our hearts and minds to new perspectives and ways to relate to God.
When we go all in for PEOPLE, we will
be led by the Spirit to find new ways to bless those around us. To honor them.
To serve them in Christ love. To learn from them. And it is in this reality, in
this new understanding of balance, in this place of tension where what we think
is good meets what God think is best, that we find ourselves on the road to
God’s perfect balance, a path that leads us to, purposeful, abundant living, in
all areas: physical, emotional, relational and vocational.
I leave you with a couple of questions for your personal
reflection and action;
What can you do to move closer to
being ALL IN for God and ALL IN for people, so you can truly experience
balance, abundance and wholeness in Christ and see this journey as a joyful adventure
of faith rather than an endless struggle?
How do you keep Christ at the center
in your daily life and your work?
What would it look like if everything
you did, in your daily life, in your job and place or ministry, you did it, as
an expression of your love to God and people?
- What would be different?
- What would be better or more manageable?
- What would balance look for you then?
The closer we are to God’s center, the more balanced and whole we become.
AMEN
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