Balancing Ministry and Life

For church musicians at this time of year, it can seem like ministry and life are poised to begin another tug-of-war. If you’re anything like me, you’ve made your annual resolution that this year will be different. This year you’ll achieve that elusive balance among all the different demands on your time. Whether you have a wall filled with framed credentials or you’re a volunteer who’s got the job because you can count to four, the beginning of the fall and the run-up to Christmas can seem like trying to ride a hoverboard—the only way to move forward is with focus and balance.

One of the core documents from my Reformed tradition may be able to give some insight. The Westminster Catechism begins with the question: “What is the chief purpose of [a human being]?” The answer might help us find balance: “To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”

Our life and our ministry should bring glory to God. This may seem obvious. But the second part—enjoying God? As church musicians and worship leaders, this is the part we can quickly forget when attendance charts have more gaps than check marks, when someone is constantly complaining about the new sanctuary lighting, or when all three of our offspring have different places they need to be—on rehearsal night. That’s when we need to remember that “joy” and “happiness” are two very different things.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”—good advice that takes on a whole new meaning when you realize Paul wrote this chained in a prison cell facing execution. The point is, finding and experiencing joy has nothing to do with our circumstances and everything to do with our hearts. Let’s be honest, rejoicing in God always (that is, enjoying God forever) only comes from a place of assurance, which only comes from a place of spiritual growth, which only comes from something all musicians understand: practice.

While in many ways ministry and life might feel like a tug-of-war, in reality they’re two vocal lines in the same piece of music. Each has its own challenging moments, but combine them and you have harmony in a song of praise to God. And like any song, the more you practice the parts, the more you hear the harmony; you find the balance and enjoy.

Okay, metaphors aside, let’s talk practically about some spiritual rehearsal techniques to help the ministry–life tug-of-war become a duet.

First, realize that God’s plan for our lives is peace and joy. The gospel writer Matthew remembered and recorded Jesus saying: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30 NRSV). Jesus was speaking to his followers (us), and his “yoke” is what we take on when we follow him. Jesus’ yoke (our commitment to follow him in ministry and life) is not designed to be a heavy burden (or a tug-of-war).

I like Eugene Peterson’s translation of this passage: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28–30 The Message). As we think about balancing life and ministry, why not claim four promises in this text?

1. 1. Pray: “Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” St. Francis de Sales once said, “Every one of us needs half an hour of prayer a day, except when we are busy—then we need an hour.” Ministry and life don’t work in a place of frustration and spiritual fatigue. Make intentional time for prayer part of your life and your rehearsals. Teach your ensembles to stop, pray, and listen to God. Can you make your rehearsals a time when people recover a bit of their life?
   2. Spend time in Scripture: “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.” You don’t have to read scripture in bulk. Can you look deeply at the accounts of Jesus’ patience—and breathe? Doing this one simple thing can help you learn to live more “freely and lightly.”
   3. Contemplate: “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” Take a regular inventory of your projects and priorities. Can you find some aspect of joy (see above) in each of your commitments? If not, ask yourself: have you wandered outside of God’s plan and purpose for you?
   4. Receive: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Grace is the greatest gift of God—the thing we most need to extend to others and to ourselves. Grace is something we learn to accept and to extend, and genuine grace is always unforced. Can you make space in your heart and in your schedule to receive what Jesus so lovingly offers?

It can sometimes be a challenge to remember that Jesus is the cosmic Creator God in human form. So when we hear Jesus’ invitation, realize that God’s will is for us to take life at a pace, enjoy it, treasure it, and help others to do the same. That’s ministry and life in combination and in balance. Wow, that sounds pretty!

PRAYER: Loving God, you have given us every talent we possess and every moment of our life. Help us, daily, to find the balance between the ministry to which You have called us and the life You have given us, that we may be your faithful apprentices as we nurture Your song in others. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.