Success in Balancing Your Life

Introduction:
Americans stand in great contrast to the rest of the world—when it comes to physical blessings. We’ve been blessed immensely! But we’re largely unhappy and stressed out/burned out lives are everywhere! So many feel their lives are out of balance. Things demand our time; money; interests; and responsibilities. Duties at home; work; staying healthy; and other things demand our time. Some get so far behind they reach the breaking point. Just how do we balance it? How can we fix it?

I. What causes us to be so _____________?
    A. 2 Cor. 10:12-13—we compare ourselves to _____________.
        1. Men: almost a status symbol to __________ all the time.
        2. Women: Superwoman allusion—belief that women can _____ ____________________!
            a) Ladies….you can’t do it all! Impossible!
            b) Lk. 10:38-42—______________ was trying to be superwoman!
    B. We often rate ourselves on the ______________ of our ____________________.
        1. Must get away from idea that more “__________” we have equates to success!
        2. Usually “things’ create _____________________.
        3. Ecc 2:9-11; Lk. 12:15—just how valuable are “things?”
    C. Mixed-up _______________________.
        1. Work; school; home; recreation; hobbies; God—all demand our time.
        2. Where’s God? Where does He factor in? Mt. 6:33—comes _______!
    D. Living up to the __________________ someone else has of you.
        1. Have idea we need to be greatest thing to everyone!
            a) take too much on self because we haven’t learned to say ____!
        2. We must learn to say NO! Take care of ___________ priorities 1st!
        3. Don’t worry about what others think! Worry about what ______ thinks!

II. Not all activities are ________________!
    A. Throw out some activities—they will not be missed!
    B. Time mgmt specialists say lives divided into two different areas
        1. URGENT NEEDS: associated w/things that have ________________!
        2. IMPORTANT NEEDS: these are the things that really ___________!
            a) worship; family time; __________ _______; love; evangelism
        3. Urgent needs often push important things back on priority list!
    C. Rich man—Lk. 12:13-21. What happened?
        1. __________ things pushed out the ____________ things!
        2. 12:24-34 –deals w/worry. What are we often worried with?

III. We must ______________________ the bad!
    A. Take a personal inventory life. What’s good? Bad? Needs improvement?
        1. What is left out because we don’t _______ ________?
        2. Rom. 2:5-7—God is going to judge us according to our __________>
            a) 2:7—persevere in doing good!
    B. 1 Thess. 5:21—hold fast to that which is good!
    C. Gal. 1:10—Am I trying to please God or men? Am I a servant of Christ?

Conclusion:
A. Does your life need improvement? Make a commitment to follow through!
B. You can be successful in obtaining a balanced life!



Success in Balancing Your Life Introduction: Americans stand in great contrast to the rest of the world—when it comes to physical blessings. We’ve been blessed immensely! But we’re largely unhappy and stressed out/burned out lives are everywhere! So many feel their lives are out of balance. Things demand our time; money; interests; and responsibilities. Duties at home; work; staying healthy; and other things demand our time. Some get so far behind they reach the breaking point. Just how do we balance it? How can we fix it? I. What causes us to be so _____________? A. 2 Cor. 10:12-13—we compare ourselves to _____________. 1. Men: almost a status symbol to __________ all the time. 2. Women: Superwoman allusion—belief that women can _____ ____________________! a) Ladies….you can’t do it all! Impossible! b) Lk. 10:38-42—______________ was trying to be superwoman! B. We often rate ourselves on the ______________ of our ____________________. 1. Must get away from idea that more “__________” we have equates to success! 2. Usually “things’ create _____________________. 3. Ecc 2:9-11; Lk. 12:15—just how valuable are “things?” C. Mixed-up _______________________. 1. Work; school; home; recreation; hobbies; God—all demand our time. 2. Where’s God? Where does He factor in? Mt. 6:33—comes _______! D. Living up to the __________________ someone else has of you. 1. Have idea we need to be greatest thing to everyone! a) take too much on self because we haven’t learned to say ____! 2. We must learn to say NO! Take care of ___________ priorities 1st! 3. Don’t worry about what others think! Worry about what ______ thinks! II. Not all activities are ________________! A. Throw out some activities—they will not be missed! B. Time mgmt specialists say lives divided into two different areas 1. URGENT NEEDS: associated w/things that have ________________! 2. IMPORTANT NEEDS: these are the things that really ___________! a) worship; family time; __________ _______; love; evangelism 3. Urgent needs often push important things back on priority list! C. Rich man—Lk. 12:13-21. What happened? 1. __________ things pushed out the ____________ things! 2. 12:24-34 –deals w/worry. What are we often worried with? III. We must ______________________ the bad! A. Take a personal inventory life. What’s good? Bad? Needs improvement? 1. What is left out because we don’t _______ ________? 2. Rom. 2:5-7—God is going to judge us according to our __________> a) 2:7—persevere in doing good! B. 1 Thess. 5:21—hold fast to that which is good! C. Gal. 1:10—Am I trying to please God or men? Am I a servant of Christ? Conclusion: A. Does your life need improvement? Make a commitment to follow through! B. You can be successful in obtaining a balanced life!