Jesus wasn’t balanced. I just read today how He turned tables over.
He rocked boats and kicked people out into wild waters.
He didn’t settle for the status quo—He challenged it at every turn. “You’ve heard it said… but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21-30). Over and over, Jesus confronted conventional wisdom as he calling His followers to something greater. It seems to me he wasn’t about playing it safe or keeping everything in equilibrium. He was about radical focus—on the Kingdom of God.
Yet today, many people talk about striving for ‘balance..’ But is that really the goal?
Balance is a myth.
I’ve tried to live balanced and found if you’re going to follow Jesus, it’s not possible, it’s not sustainable, and I’d go further – not even desirable. Instead of balance, Jesus calls us to focus, to live centred in Him, and learn to move in the rhythm of His grace. That is possible, sustainable and desirable!
The Problem With Balance
Balance, by definition, means finding an equilibrium between competing forces. It assumes life should be a delicate juggling act where everything—work, family, ministry, personal time—exists in perfect harmony.
But here’s the problem: life doesn’t work that way – especially if you are carrying a cross (Mark 8:34). Even if you find balance for a moment, all it takes is an unexpected event—an illness, a financial setback, a crisis—to throw everything off. Aiming at balance is an impossible standard that leaves people frustrated and exhausted.
Can you think of one person in Scripture who lived a “balanced” life?
- King David was either singing in fields, dodging speaks hiding in caves, acting like he was crazy or ruling a kingdom – but always chasing after God’s heart.
- Nehemiah left a secure job to rebuild a wall and refused to come down until what he saw God had told him to do finished.
- Anna the prophetess prayed in the temple day and night for years.
- The Apostle Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, and prison—try telling him your aim is a “balanced” life.
What did they all have in common? They were focused.
The Alternative: Focus, Centre, and Rhythm
Instead of balance, Jesus calls us to three things: Focus, Centre, and Rhythm.
1. Focus: Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Notice He doesn’t say, “Balance the kingdom of God along with everything else.”
We are looking at the in Ivy at the moment in our teaching series on WORK. When you focus first and foremost on God’s Kingdom, everything else falls into place. That doesn’t mean life becomes easy, but it does mean you stop striving for balance and start striving for purpose.
The Apostle Paul had a lot to do – but his singular focus is summed up in these words: “This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Paul wasn’t interested in balance. He was focused.
Question to ask yourself: Am I truly seeking first the Kingdom, or trying to fit God into my “balanced” schedule?
2. Centre: Make Jesus the Core of Everything
Every one of us has a centre—something that drives your decisions, values, and priorities. For some, it’s career. For others, it’s family, comfort, or success.
For a Christ-follower, there is only one rightful centre: Jesus.
Paul again: “For me, to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:21). He understood that life wasn’t about juggling multiple priorities—it was about full devotion to Jesus in everything.
Your stage of life will impact how this looks. If you have young children, your calling includes pouring into them. If you’re in business, your workplace is your mission field. Apply it to yourself now but the key is making Jesus the centre, no matter your season.
Question to ask yourself: Is my life truly centred on that picture of Christ, or is He just another piece of the puzzle?
3. Rhythm: Move in Step With the Spirit
Balance suggests that everything in life should be evenly distributed. Rhythm acknowledges that different seasons require different speeds.
For 30 years, Jesus lived and worked in relative obscurity as a carpenter. Then, for three years, he moved at a fast pace, preaching, healing, and leading. Yet, even in his busiest moments, he was never rushed. he moved in sync with the Father’s will.
The same should be true for us. Some seasons require hustle. Others require rest, recreation and reset. The key is not balance—it’s finding God’s rhythm for your life.
Question to ask yourself: Am I moving at God’s rhythm, or forcing my own pace?
Forget Balance—Live for Jesus
Balance is a cultural ideal, not a biblical mandate. Instead of striving for a perfectly ordered life, pursue what truly matters:
FOCUS on the Kingdom CENTRE your life in Christ MOVE in God’s rhythm
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pursuit of balance right now – let it go. Embrace the call to live with purpose, passion, and an unwavering focus on Jesus.
Next Steps:
Take a moment to pray: Ask God to reveal where you need to shift your focus. Identify one area where you’ve been chasing balance instead of Christ. Share this with a friend or your church community and start a conversation about what it means to live a truly focused life.
Jesus didn’t call you to a balanced life but rather to die to yourself daily and live with resurrection power as you fully follow Him!