How to Balance School Work with Church Responsibilities

Posted On September 18, 2024

Written by Rev. Levi Berntson, assistant professor of theology

Finding balance is challenging in all stages of life, especially for Bible college students striving to manage their schoolwork alongside church responsibilities. At RBC, being active in a local church is required, but the demands of academic life often make this responsibility seem daunting.

Some students may even feel guilty because they cannot devote themselves to the local church as much as they would like. What can be done? Here are five practical ways to help balance schoolwork and church responsibilities without getting overwhelmed:

1. Remember that your present calling is to be a student. As you move through different stages of life, your availability for service in the church will fluctuate. There may be a time coming down the road when you are called to devote yourself to the local church in a more significant way, but that time may not be now. Your task as a student is to prepare yourself for what God may call you to do later when He opens that door. If you try to take on significantly more than you are called to do at present, you will almost certainly overload yourself. God has given you the strength you need for your work today, so focus on your task as a student before adding additional obligations.

2. Observe the Sabbath. God has given us a special day for rest and worship. If your responsibilities at school and church are keeping you from rest and worship on the Lord’s Day, then perhaps you are taking on too much.

3. Learn your own limits. Some people have a higher bandwidth than others, but all of us have our limitations. It is important to assess what you can handle so that you do not get burned out. Don’t compare yourself to other students who seem to accomplish more or less than you, or who appear to be heavily involved in their local church while you are feeling overwhelmed just keeping up with your homework. Whether you can give a lot or a little, God accepts your best (Mark 12:41–44).

4. Get a plan and stick to it. All of us have a limited number of hours in a week, so it is crucial to get a sense of the time that you have. I often encourage students to get a calendar and then pencil in all their academic responsibilities (reading, assignments, papers, exams, etc.) to designate certain parts of the week to these responsibilities. This exercise will quickly reveal how much time you actually have, and it will serve to prevent you from overcommitting yourself.

5. Remember that your life after graduation will be busy too. In fact, it may be much busier than it is now! Later in life, you will very likely have more responsibilities than you presently do, such as marriage, children, or full-time employment. Learning the right habits and practices now will serve you very well in all stages of life.

Balancing the demands of Bible college and church responsibilities is no easy task, but with thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of your current calling, it can be done without overwhelming yourself. Remember, the skills and habits you develop now will serve you well in the future as your responsibilities grow. Trust that God will guide you through this season, equipping you for the work He is preparing you to do.