Balanced Obsession or Obsessively Balanced?

Balance is a value that is instilled in us from very early on in our lives. I was always taught to eat a balanced meal. My dad always told me that too much of a good thing actually ends up harming you. He should have taken his own advice with his alcohol consumption, but that’s another blog for another depressing day.. He would always tell me that moderation is the healthiest way of life. This value of balance/moderation gets communicated to us in many different ways. ‘Don’t watch too much TV!’ or ‘Don’t go outside too much!’ or ‘Don’t stay inside all the time!’ I actually talked with a person yesterday whose parents told her that she studied too much! It is a message that says “Avoid the extremes at all cost!”

These are all calls to a balanced life. I thought that God wanted this kind of “balanced life,” a balanced life that espoused moderation. This is actually taught in some seminaries. Don’t have extreme theological views. Find a peaceful middle. God is sovereign yet human beings are free! Don’t be a hyper-Calvinist or an extreme Arminian. Avoid the extremes like a charismanaic or dispensational cessationist. Don’t be so conservative that you are not open minded nor too liberal that you don’t know what you believe. Just be… well.. “moderate.” We find many moderate Christians in the church today, thinking that moderation equals balance.

Well, opposite of moderation is obsession. Now, that is a bad word. It is often connoted with its cousin word, possession. Similarities are obvious. Other than the excessive number of ’s’s, both lack “balance.” Both are assigned a treatment, medical or otherwise, which indicate its maladic nature. However, could it be that obsession (not possession) more accurately describes biblical Christian life than its opposite?

Lately, I have been obsessed, whether it is a balanced obsession or not depends on whom you ask. If you ask me, I would say, ‘Yes!’ If you ask my wife, she would tell you ‘No!’ But what we both will agree on is that I am obsessed.

How can you not be obsessed when God places His dream in your heart? How can I be “moderate” when I have risked all I have to make that dream come true? Moderation is unreasonable. Obsession is normal.

Have you heard of anyone in history accomplishing great things who wasn’t obsessed? Yet, we have billions of people who are living a “balanced” life or striving to live a balanced life today. Are books written about them? Can you find them in history books? Do others study their lives??? Exactly! Greatness requires obsession. I think balance is overrated. I think living a Christian life necessitates a bit of obsession, don’t you think so? I mean, was Jesus “balanced”? I don’t think so. He was absolutely obsessed over his mission on earth. Was Paul “balanced”? Are you kidding? Obsession was his middle name, Paul Obsession (what was his last name?). (See Philippians 3:7-8, 1 Cor. 2: 2)

I guess my obsession has to find a balance somehow without losing its momentum or passion. But, on the other hand, I don’t have to be obsessed about being balanced, do I?

Confusing? Obsessedlutely! What I do know that is crystal clear: God has gripped me with His dream for my life, and my response cannot be anything other than obsession…

~ by wonsukdo on March 27, 2009.