In a recent article in Worship Leader magazine Paul Baloche, talking to worship teams, writes something that applies to all of us:
Whatever your primary function or role is, you need to be dedicated to that. At the same time, cultivating a devotional heart towards God, getting in and memorizing Scriptures, going to prayer meetings, being part of the people of God in a local community where people are learning and praying and seeking God is imperative.
It’s a constant seesaw, or better, a scale that requires balance. You don’t want to be just all about the spiritual disciplines and never practice your instrument. On the other hand we don’t want to be all about music, never memorizing the Word or praying or spending time hanging out with healthy believers. So our whole life is about seeking to keep those two things in balance. (1)
Whether you are the guitar player in your praise band, the go-to accountant at work, a pastor or youth leader, a church committee member, a mom, a student, a computer guru, at teacher or whatever else, it applies. We need to work on our “instrument,” our craft, what we do, and balance it with our relationship with Jesus.
There are times life in a monastery seems pretty attractive. Having nothing to do but improve my relationship with Jesus through reading, writing, meditating, praying, thinking and whatever I could think of would be awesome, but that’ not my calling.
There are other times I want to take off running with my career. I want to find that thing that would make me a bunch of money, bring me the most notoriety, and boost my ego. At those times I can bet so busy that I neglect my relationship with Jesus. I know that sounds weird coming from a pastor, but it can happen to us as easy as anyone.
I think Baloche describes it well calling the struggle a constant seesaw/scale that requires work to keep balanced. We don’t want to be so good at what we do that we forget the One who gave us the gifts to do it, nor do we want to be so focused on the spiritual side that we stink at what we do. We need both. We need to work on our craft and our reason for doing it – to give glory to the One who gives meaning to our lives.
(1) Baloche, Paul. “Fruit of Faithful Diligence.” Worship Leader. July/August 2011, p. 12.