AS BALANCED AS JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

All of us have our own ideas of what balance means. What is balanced in matters of kindness, gentleness, reasonableness, generosity, humility, rebuke, correction—many will argue about. When is anger ungodly, as opposed to being timely and appropriate? When is happiness discordant? When is criticism fitting? How is the righteousness of Jesus Christ applied in all situations?

How does one determine what is balanced, timely, pertinent in any given circumstance? Please notice what Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel (whose wisdom, insight, and understanding was sought by leading men of other nations [1Ki 3:9; 4:29-34]), said in Ecclesiastes. It is already quite evident to us that the power, wisdom, and the love of God are needed in doing God’s will in all situations—whether simple, complex, perplexing, or frightening (Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; Rm 12:2-3): 2Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear [perfect love casts out fear (1Jn 4:18)], but of power and of love and of a sound mind [from Gk. sophroneo: ‘putting it all together as practical truth’; self-controlled and prudent; sensible; of sound judgment; right evaluation].

Eccl 3:1-8 There is an appointed time for everything. [How does one decide that?] And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; [How is birth decided?] A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. [When do we plant?] 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up. [With regard to a house and the individual.] 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; [clearing land; preventing land fertility; stoning for crime; decisions about sexual activity in marriage.] A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak. 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

All of these aspects of timeliness, appropriateness, balanced decision-making are to be put into action. Yet how problematic is this ever-present incoherence, inconsistency, unrighteousness, this falling short, this incompleteness characteristic of all of us (1Cor 2:10-11; Rom 7:14-25).

We know we should live by every word of God, become perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect, and strive for the will of God in everything (Mt 4:4; 5:48; Col 1:9-11). Paul’s epistle to the church of Colossae expresses so brilliantly the essence of Christian behaviour:

Col 1:9-11 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

The amazing power of these words tells us of the kind of help necessary and available to live, think, walk as Jesus Christ wants of us. And there is the ongoing emphasis of growth, maturity, change, transformation.

But how does one gain equilibrium when depressed and disoriented? Disequilibrium, unsettling and imbalance, destabilization, seem to be basic ingredients in Western culture, in its values, in family and personal life (Jer 51:8). We, saints of the Almighty Father, children of the God whose understanding is infinite (Ps 146:5), recipients of His Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:14-17), are to overcome the world and the trials that unsettle us (1Jn 5:4-5; 4:4-6; 1Pet 1:3-9; 4:12-14; Rom 12:21).

1Pet 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.

JESUS CHRIST: EXTREMIST, INCONSISTENT—OR PERFECT?

Each of us is right in his own eyes and trusts in his own personal opinion (Dt 12:8; Jgs 21:25; Prov 26:12; Is 29:13,15; 30:1; Jer 17:5,9-10; Ezk 33:13). Though each of us may well know this, and even cite Scriptures in support, our personal insupportable opinions too often hold greater influence than our desire for the living expression of truth in our daily living. These painful struggles, of flesh lusting against the Spirit and spirit against the flesh (Gal 5:17; Rm 7:14-18), pain and perplex us. It is humanly fashionable to deny pain, to cast pain away—not to deal with its causes!

Let’s look at examples in the Scriptures that challenge our own inconsistencies. These irrationalities are based more on immature emotions and unreasoned prejudices rather than that bold objective truth, which the human mind persists in resisting: for the carnal mind is enmity against God; is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Rm 8:7).

CHRIST’S CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

Let’s consider an incident recorded in Mt 21:12-13; Mk 11:15-18; Lk 19:45-48; but which has a fuller account in Jn 2, and is, apparently, the first of two such events, though many scholars disagree and try to reconcile all into one event.

Jn 2:13-17 Now the Passover of the Jews (see v23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1; 13:1) was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves (to those who were buying sacrificial animals), and the moneychangers (the Gk. implies ‘to cut small’; to charge exorbitant exchange rates) doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords (with obvious premeditation), He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables (in very evident enraged anger! But was this premeditated anger, this disturbance of the peace in a public place, this vandalism of others’ property—balanced? sound minded? according to God’s Will?. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written (Ps 69:9; see vv1-12): "Zeal for Your House has eaten Me up."

What makes this incident clean and right before God? Can we see ourselves doing what Jesus Christ did if we were in His shoes ("walk as He walked" 1Jn 2:6; "follow His steps" 1Pet 2:21)? The inevitable question each of us needs to ask the self: "Am I zealous for the holiness, sanctity, cleanliness of the House of God, the Church of the Living God?" Do we tolerate trade in falsehoods? tolerate the desecration of minds and human spirits? Why won’t we act on what we know is right? What is one who does not do what should knowingly be done: He who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (Jas 4:17).

CHRIST’S TREATMENT OF THE CANAANITE WOMAN

Another amazing example of Christ’s extraordinary behaviour is just before He feeds the 4000 with 7 loaves and a few fish after 3 days of preaching and healings.

Mt 15:21-28 (also Mk 7:24-30) Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A woman of Canaan (a Syro-Phoenician) came from that region and cried out to Him (inside the house in which He was sheltering from the crowd): "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a word. [Now that seems quite rude and inconsiderate!] And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 But He answered and said [to her], "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [So Christ did not die for the sins of the world? So His compassion is given with respect to persons? He is then a Lord of partiality?] 25 But she came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to little dogs." [So the gifts of Him who is the Bread of Life are limited to racially Israelite children of God?] 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." [It’s perhaps interesting that Jacob, is a worm (Is 41:14; and Ps 22:6 refers to the Redeemer on the crucifixion stake as: "I am a worm, and no man."] 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! [Her faith, her humility, her belief, her love for her daughter and for her Redeemer overrode any pride, any self-opinion, any personal prejudices.] Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (She went home, found her daughter in bed, and the demon was gone.)

How did this lady feel after this series of events? Did she feel that Jesus had been unkind to her? inconsiderate? had set out to disorient her? She would have greatly rejoiced! The faithful wounds of a Friend are better than the deceitful kisses of an enemy (Prov 27:6).

CHRIST’S REACTIONS TO THE PHARISEES

Mt 23:5-7 But all their works they do to be seen by men. [Too often we react to images we want to create rather than what God expects of us!] They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, "Rabbi, Rabbi." [It is better to have recognition from those we love and praise and we humanly need, rather than the praise of God?]

Mt 23:13-15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. [I fear to comment here because so many are politely tolerant of this kind of despicability today!]

Mt 23:23-29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice [righteousness], mercy, and faith [the Faith; faithfulness in all the Law]. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! [Gluttons for folly] 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all [kinds of rotting] uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness [Having a form of godliness, but denying the power of God: from such men turn away (2Tim 3:5)]. 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous.

Mt 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! [Talk about a generosity of compliments!] How can you escape the condemnation of hell? [Through deep repentance–complete transformation!]

Mat 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate!

We should not respond very strongly because we might reveal the extent of the desolation and famine in the House of God!?

Are not these very same descriptions visible today? Indeed they are, and are further elaborated in numerous places in the OT (Jer 12; 23; Ezk 34; Mal 2:1-9 & c.). Yet many make all kinds of efforts to maintain a humanly devised largesse of decorum, a syrup of creepy politeness, an air of vacuous affections and affectations—and this is all done in the name of Christian balance, Christian propriety, Christian manners. This anti-biblical disorientation continues to produce people who are pained, perplexed, paralysed, and if not too late, perishing. Woe and disaster to all those who cause the little ones to stumble (Lk 17:2; Mt 18:14).

We should notice that our Saviour is entirely devoted and motivated to act and speak to always bring those called, to a transformed life in the loving care of God. He despises all that resists His efforts to bring the fullest measure of growth in the grace and knowledge of His Way (2Pet 3:18).

PHINEHAS’ LOVE FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD

Here is what another part of the Scripture says about a man’s actions, which today would probably be viewed as most unbecoming! It’s a story we know.

Ps 106:30-31 Phinehas stood up and intervened and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

Is the righteousness of the OT different to the righteousness of the NT?

Num 25:1-13 (NIV) While Israel was staying in Shittim, [Shittim: Heb. acacias; opposite Jericho; a fountain from the Temple will supply waters for the Valley of Acacias (Joel 3:18)]. the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor. The Lord's anger burned against them. 4 The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the Lord's fierce anger may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses (the meekest of men [Num 12:3]) said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor." 6 Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping (at a service called for repentance and petitioning God) at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them--through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. 10 The LORD said to Moses, 11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned My anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in My zeal I did not put an end to them. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace (see Mal 2:5) with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

RAHAB’S PROTECTION OF THE TWO SPIES

Here is another example where apparently ‘wrong’ behaviour—by today’s standards of Christianity—is endorsed by the NT:

Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rehab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Jas 2:25-26 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

We should note the very obvious parallel made between being spiritually dead and not doing what Rahab did.

Josh 2:1-14 [Rahab: Heb. pride, arrogance; Babylonian female monster of chaos, associated with the monster dragon of Egypt; Ezk 29:3] Joshua, the son of Nun, secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. (Why did they select a place of treachery and dishonour? We could speculate.) 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab (So this whorehouse is one of those elite places for politicians, generals, and the like): "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, (She admitted to seeing the men.) the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." (The rest of the information was false; she protected their lives.) 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof (Was she manufacturing her own bed-linen?). 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt (So she had lots of time to contemplate what she might do when the Israelites arrived), and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (She had already accepted that the God of Israel was the true God). 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death." 14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land." (This was a fair deal for all.)

DAVID’S RESPONSES TO HIS FAITHFUL MEN

Regarding the 3 mighty men who got water for David (2Sam 23:13-17; 2Chr 11:15-19):

2Sam 23:13-17 (NIV; following his mighty poetic prayer in ch 22; repeated in Ps 18). During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam (in the rugged desert terrain on the western side of the Dead Sea; and there were probably some caves and places—altered by human effort—called ‘strongholds’), while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem ("the house of Bread"). 15 David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" (But David would not expect any of his men to risk their lives for such an emotion-driven desire.) 16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines (at great risk to their lives, and some probable injuries), drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it (probably a whole skinful) back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD (in a sacrificial and parabolic way. Drink offerings always involved wine and oil. Wine is symbolic of blood, and life is in the blood [Lev 17:11]). 17 "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.

JEREMIAH’S BATTLE FOR COHERENCE

Jer 20:7-18 (NIV) [Omitted in the original sermon, but included for the reader].

PARABLE OF THE SEE-SAW

We’ve all been on a see-saw—with children, as children, with other adults. And you may have done this, or seen someone stand in the middle, manipulating the board; ready to jump off on to the ground. The idea was to regulate the timing of the see-sawing; maybe you even attempted to balance the ends so that both stayed off the ground with the board quite horizontal. While the board is relatively low off the ground; while each end may not be too far off the ground; while co-operation is relatively easy—all seems fine.

Let’s imagine a see-saw above the first. Then imagine a see-saw above the second, then another above the third. The distance from the ground is greater, and the ends of the board cannot touch the ground, which is now too far below. How does one maintain balance? It becomes scary! Risky! Too dangerous! The greater the knowledge and grace of God, the greater the difficulty in maintaining balance. With eyes focused on the ground, the earth, one will, naturally, refuse to go higher. But we are speaking of looking on things above, and not on things below. Please see Col 3:1-5a; Phlp 3:12-4:1.

CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER

At the end of Matthew 12 there is a remarkable incident where Jesus’ mother and brothers had intimated they wanted to speak to Him; He was preoccupied with a large crowd.

Mt 12:49-50 (repeated in Mk 3:34-35) He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

How remarkable that so many will not make decisions that would make them far more committed to following the Way, zealously, convictedly, because they feel that their decisions would cause break-ups of relationships. In these days of on-going scattering the vision of the family of God is lacking.

Lk 7:30-35 The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him (This would mean repentance and wholehearted commitment!). 31 The Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.’ (It is normal for children to readily respond. This generation does not). 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children." The wisdom of God is the manifest righteousness of the children of God!

It is quite apparent that the pre-eminent concepts with respect to godly balance are:

• appropriateness as the Bible defines
• reasonableness as the Bible defines
• Christian growth and increase as the Word of God defines.

But this is too frightening, too great a prospect to attain to. It requires God’s grace, peace, power (2Tim 1:7)!