Balancing Life's Roles

A young men in a Bible class suggested that he was having trouble finding time required for his work, his family and church. The clear implication was that these were competing segments of his life and he was struggling to find time for each. Part of the struggle was with trying to live, at least, three lives (work, family, and church) the notion of compartmentalization. Rather than seeing life as one with various roles to be played along the way.

The second idea as to the need for such a book came some years, and hopefully some maturity, later as I saw disciples of the Lord look everywhere, for answers in dealing with their daily struggles, but the primary source, the Bible. Somewhere along the way, many of us have been guilty of thinking of the Bible as a guide for our “spiritual life” as something apart and different from our everyday life. Therefore, many of us have spent enormous amounts of time and money seeking “professional” advice in coping with the demands of our daily life while the Bible either gathers dust or is used to seek God’s advice only on “spiritual matters”. In seeking answers to how one should live any role in life, and not searching the Bible first, is like the old country and western song titled, Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places. "There are those in our world who would claim that the Bible is an outdated, antiquated, irrelevant book. This kind of thinking can only come from ignorance or an agenda. No one can open-mindedly read the Bible and not see its relevance for us today."--Tim Gibbs. Are you a slave then, whose slave? Are you a neighbor or friend, a citizen? Do you work outside the home? Are you a spouse (husband or wife), a parent? What is your responsibility as a child (young or old)? Are you a member of God's family? Are you retired? God has provided guidance for you!

He has also noted some key attributes which we must develop in order to successfully accomplish the attendant responsibilities of each of these roles. Without these attributes, it is not likely that we will gain success. One needs the value and possess the ability to set goals, count the cost, establish priorities, seek counsel and prayer, gain knowledge and understanding, conduct training and practice, possess discipline, self-control and diligence. How to stay focused and avoid distractions. Success requires the acquisition of faith, confidence and courage, commitment/dedication and endurance and patience. Only God can accomplish great things in very short period of time; with us it takes longer. However, He has provided guidelines for accomplishment.