How do you balance a Christian life while living in the world?
This is a good question. How do we live, work and interact within our community, country, and the world, yet at the same time obey God and please him.
The earth, in Genesis chapter 6, was full of violence and wickedness. God told a man named Noah to build an ark because He was going to bring a flood upon the earth. Noah was righteous and God wanted to save him, his family and the animals. Noah and his family were the only ones building the ark, they were probably being mocked and shunned by their community. They may have felt like recluses, living in the world but not being part of it, but ‘Noah did everything just as God commanded him.’ Genesis 6:22
‘38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.’ Matthew 24:38-39
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.’ Hebrews 11:7
Jesus spoke often to his disciples about the evils of the world. He said they should expect that the world would hate them. But this was a good thing, it meant they were chosen by God and would be protected from the evil one.
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.’ John 15:18-19
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.’ John 17:14-15
Living in this world as a Christian, it is our duty to manifest, or show, God by the way we conduct ourselves. Singer Randy Travis, in his memoire ‘Forever and Ever Amen’, quotes, ‘You might be the only ‘Bible’ some people ever read’. He also says of a fellow country music artist, ‘ He is known as a sincere Christian man who doesn’t flaunt his faith or constantly quote Bible versus, but he lives his life in a way that points people to Christ.’
‘Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 1 Peter 2:12
‘12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.’ 2 Corinthians 1:12
As much as we may wish to avoid interacting with the world, God wants us to be a beacon of light in the darkness.
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.’ Philippians 2:15
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14-16
We can find balance and harmony in this world by filling our lives with the word, prayer and fellowship. If we do what pleases God, he will not leave us alone, ‘… he has not left me alone, for I (Jesus) always do what pleases him.” John 8:29.
Article by Dale.
