Overview
Keeping spiritual balance means staying centered on the faith of Jesus Christ, the one fixed point that does not change, and making the small adjustments that bring you back whenever life pushes you off. In The Balanced Walk, Rev. Rico Magnelli works through Galatians 6, 1 Timothy 4:16, Romans 1:17, Acts 14 and Acts 18 to show what pulls a believer off center: isolation, getting too analytical, and negotiating the world with the Word the way the Galatians did. Balance is not a destination you arrive at. It is recognizing when you are spiritually dizzy, welcoming honest input from people who love you, and bearing one another’s burdens under the law of Christ.
Transcript
Keeping Spiritual Balance Is an Art in Life and Leadership
God bless you all. Please turn to Galatians chapter 6. And what we want to talk about is keeping spiritual balance, and keeping spiritual balance is an art in life and in leadership. Now, certainly there’s several categories of balance in the Word, but what we want to touch upon is balance in terms of our walk, our lifestyle of living the Word.
Now, if balance does not communicate to you, sometimes people speak of being centered, which means one is self-confident and stable, as opposed to leaning too much in any category, in an excessive amount, to the end that that category begins to dominate and overshadows everything else. We want to be centered, we want to be balanced. Certainly there are times and aspects of life that we need to focus in in a category, family, work projects, so forth and so on, but we always return back to a more measured balance.
Take Heed unto Thyself and unto the Doctrine: 1 Timothy 4:16
And when it comes to our personal walk, we can be aware of our own tendencies, for sure, and adjust to remain centered in Christ. And that’s where that beautiful Scripture in 1 Timothy 4:16 really comes to light. 1 Timothy 4:16 says, Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
So clearly there’s an application here where we’re to take stock and know our own tendencies and utilize the word to help us. But how about there are times when we’re not aware we need an adjustment? That’s where we may need help. And those who love us and will be honest with us are the best to help.
Overtaken in a Fault: What Galatians 6:1 Is Describing
And here in Galatians chapter 6, in terms of balance, perhaps you haven’t thought of these Scriptures in light of our spiritual walk, but here in Galatians chapter 6 verse 1 it says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. This fault is very specific and subjective to that person.
In other words, what might trip me up may not trip you up. What might trip you up may not trip me up. And it deals with missing what is right, as opposed to doing something wrong. It’s like you’re driving down the road and there goes your exit. You missed the exit. You didn’t really do something wrong. You just missed what was right. And we each have tendencies, so there’s no judgment. But what can end up happening is we need help because we’ve been overtaken in this situation.
How Isolation Throws Off a Balanced Walk
And this often happens when we allow ourselves to get too isolated. Isolation affects our balanced walk. Why am I saying that? Well, because we need input.
God designed us in Christ Jesus to assemble one with another. Not necessarily for you to tell me how great the weather is. I don’t mind hearing about the weather. But sometimes we need that word to be reinforced in our own heart and soul. We need to see the mutual respect. And what it does, it helps us make these adjustments that are so key when it comes to being spiritually balanced.
We assemble ourselves one with another. We don’t forsake that assembling. We work at it. Why? Because that’s where we get sharpened. As we see the day approaching. And it helps us avoid getting isolated off in our thinking. Isolated off in our walk. I like to call it where people live in a tunnel. Their own little tunnel.
And what ends up happening is their spiritual equilibrium is not centered. They begin to focus on things a little too much that perhaps need to be in their life, but maybe not as emphasized.
Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens and the Law of Christ
See, we restore such an one so they can make an adjustment. Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ. And the law of Christ is to love each other as Christ has loved. We bear one another’s burdens. These are burdens that can be shared. But the idea it’s done in light of the law of Christ. So there’s no judgment, no criticism.
For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. See, the deception here is the man who thinks he doesn’t need the law of Christ. When we get isolated off, sometimes we don’t ask for help or the input is maybe more limited. There has to be a giving and receiving and keeping our spiritual balance and keeping ourselves centered. And that spiritual balance allows us to walk more fluidly with God and the things of God.
That’s why we need help. So the man that’s deceived here is either carrying the burden or is trying to help with the burden, but is not employing the law of Christ. We need that to help each other.
Getting Too Analytical, and Why Listening Helps
Another thing that helps us with not getting unbalanced or becoming unbalanced is getting too analytical. It can cause us to lose balance in our walk. That’s why I like to keep things as practical as I can. What helps me? What helps Rico not get isolated off? Again, that doesn’t mean we can’t be alone. It means in our heart and our thinking. So I know what helps Rico is listening, listening, being a good listener, because God is at work in people around me. God is at work with people around you. Listen, and that will help us keep a balance.
One Never Arrives: Recognizing When You Are Spiritually Dizzy
Look at Romans chapter one, please. You know, one never arrives. So being in spiritual balance isn’t necessarily our goal. We just recognize when we’re not centered on Christ. It’s like when you’re walking physically, what tells you that your balance is maybe off, you get dizzy. Well, spiritually, you can get a little dizzy too. And that’s where we want to bring it back.
We want to bring it back to a solid foundation. I mean, get centered again. And life is a constant adjustment. This isn’t talking about making huge changes in your life. Often it’s just slight adjustments that helps us keep our spiritual equilibrium, our balance, staying centered in Christ. And if we need help, listening to others can be very significant in that pursuit.
The Just Shall Live by Faith: Romans 1:17
In Romans chapter one, verse 17, it says, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed. Verse 17 of Romans one, from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith or keep on living by faith. See, bringing each other back to the accomplished work of Christ is how we can help each other.
And when we’re around each other, what ends up happening is we sharpen one another. The mutual respect reminds us of who we are and helps us stay on track, stay centered on Christ, because we’re not going to live outside of the faith of Jesus Christ. We’re just going to exist. And I know that gives us eternal life. I get that. But we need to live and keep on living on the accomplished work of Jesus Christ and helps us stay balanced.
Confirming the Souls of the Disciples: Acts 14:22
Look at Acts 14, please. See, what ends up happening is people learn the word and then the world comes in and then they try to negotiate kind of the world with the word. And what ends up happening, if they’re not bringing themselves back to the foundation of the faith of Jesus Christ, what ends up happening is they do what the Galatians did. They start getting off track and they lose that spiritual balance.
Here in Acts 14, the apostle Paul is moving through the area. And in verse 22, it says, confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. There’s going to be mental pressure when it comes to walking in the sovereignty of God in all situations. That’ll be there.
But what we do is we keep confirming ourselves by bringing it back to the foundation. Our spiritual balanced walk has more to do with our conscious effort to bring into practical reality the faith of Jesus Christ on a daily basis than we realize, because that is the foundation and that is the stability in our lives because it never changes. Everything else does often.
So what Paul was doing, he says, I’m going to go back around and I’m going to confirm, which means to strengthen or to make firm the disciples. How’s he going to do that? Encouraging them to continue in the faith. Continue with mutual respect. Continue in the grace of God. And that’s how it’s done.
When we get isolated off like the Galatians did, then we start to think all these kind of weird thoughts. We start thinking weird things about ourselves. We start thinking weird things about other people. Remember what they thought about the Apostle Paul? That he was an enemy when he had told them the truth because they had allowed themselves to get isolated off.
A Fixed Reference Point, and a Paddle Boarding Lesson
You know, balance in life or being centered, if you will, means you have a reference point, a place to come back to when life and emotions and stress push you off balance. You need something that’s stable to hold onto, something that’s fixed, something that doesn’t change, and that is the faith of Jesus Christ.
When a number of us went paddle boarding here in Florida, paddle boarding is where you’ve got this kind of long, almost looks like a surfboard, but you stand on it and use a paddle and you paddle through the water. And my first experience was not something I’m going to forget. Because I got on the board, but I wasn’t centered on the board. I was standing too far back. And as I got up on the board, the board started to go up and I lost my balance. And guess where Rico ended up? In the water. I wasn’t centered.
See, life is like that. We can recover, but we want to stay centered on something that’s a fixed point. If the faith of Jesus Christ is fixed for you, it doesn’t move, it doesn’t change, meaning it’s unalterable. That will allow us to navigate life and be more spiritually balanced and not get drawn away and pulled away by other things.
Strengthening All the Disciples in Galatia and Phrygia: Acts 18:23
In Acts 18, Paul does the same thing. He goes back through Galatia and Phrygia. And in verse 23 of Acts 18, it says, and after he had spent some time there, that’s in Antioch, he departed and went over all the country of Galatia, we just read Galatians, and Phrygia in order. So there was a method to what he was doing, strengthening all the disciples. This is the same word as confirming, making firm. So what was he doing? He was bringing them back to the foundation.
So how do we keep a spiritual balance? It’s going to take some adjustments in life because we all kind of moving through this life and there’s different aspects that are brought in at times. So we just make adjustments. And sometimes we may need help to make those adjustments. Maybe we’re not seeing where we’re overtaken. And we need somebody that loves us and is honest with us to help us make an adjustment. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We should welcome that because we can bear one another’s burdens with the law of Christ, which is to love like Christ.
Keeping Your Hands on Practical Things
See, when people learn the word and then they follow a worldly path by getting too intellectual, they lose their spiritual balance. They’re not centered on Christ anymore. And sometimes we start recognizing that ourselves. Oh, I’m not balanced here. I’m doing too much of this or too much of that. I need to kind of spread this out a little bit here. I need to maybe take some breaks. I need to not get isolated off in my mind.
One of the things that I like to do is I like to keep my hands on practical things. Common sense things. So I don’t get too intellectual and try to analyze everything of God and analyze everything to the nth degree before I even move. I trust this is making some sense to you.
Why is that balance so important? Well, it’s because it’s not as easy to maintain as people think because it’s very easy for us to invest ourselves in things that we prefer and things that we like and all that. And then at the expense of the things that will keep us in balance. But maybe we can consider making some adjustments, maybe a little less of that and maybe a little bit more of that.
Where Do You Need to Make an Adjustment?
So here’s what I’d like you to think about. Where do you need to make an adjustment? Maybe you already know. And are you willing to receive any help if you need help? Sometimes you’ve got to ask for it. Sometimes people that love you just tell you. It doesn’t really matter. The point is we make the adjustment and keep ourselves balanced in our walk. Keep ourselves centered on Christ and keep coming back to the fixed point in all our lives that really brought us all together. And that’s the faith of Jesus Christ. His accomplished work, which is through and through grace.
So thanks. Love you.
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual balance means being centered rather than leaning so far into one category of life that it begins to dominate and overshadow everything else.
- 1 Timothy 4:16 puts the first responsibility on us: take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine, know your own tendencies, and use the Word to adjust.
- Galatians 6:1 describes being overtaken in a fault as missing what is right, like driving past your exit, not as doing something wrong, so there is no judgment in it.
- Isolation is what unbalances the walk. We assemble one with another because that is where we get sharpened and where the Word is reinforced in our own heart and soul.
- Bearing one another’s burdens has to be done under the law of Christ, which is to love each other as Christ has loved. The deceived man is the one who thinks he does not need it.
- The faith of Jesus Christ is the fixed reference point, unalterable, the place to come back to when life, emotions and stress push you off balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to keep spiritual balance in your walk?
It means staying centered on Christ rather than leaning too much into any one category of life until that category dominates and overshadows everything else. Rico Magnelli is clear that being in spiritual balance is not a goal you arrive at, because one never arrives. You simply recognize when you are not centered on Christ and bring it back to a solid foundation. Life is a constant adjustment, and it is usually slight adjustments rather than huge changes that keep your spiritual equilibrium.
Why does isolation throw off our balanced walk?
Because we need input. God designed us in Christ Jesus to assemble one with another, and that is where we get sharpened and where the Word gets reinforced in our own heart and soul. Rico Magnelli describes isolation as living in your own little tunnel, where spiritual equilibrium is no longer centered and you begin to focus on things a little too much. When we get isolated off we stop asking for help, or the input we do get is more limited.
What does Galatians 6:1 mean by being overtaken in a fault?
The fault is very specific and subjective to that person: what might trip me up may not trip you up. It deals with missing what is right rather than doing something wrong, like driving down the road and watching your exit go by. You did not really do something wrong, you just missed what was right. Because we each have tendencies there is no judgment in it, but we may need those who are spiritual to restore us in the spirit of meekness.
Scripture References
Galatians 6; 1 Timothy 4:16; Galatians 6:1; Galatians 6:2; Galatians 6:3; Romans 1:17; Acts 14:22; Acts 18:23
This text was prepared from the teaching audio. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
