David is trying to cope with a new life-style and a new baby. After years of office work in New York City, he and his little family moved to the country, where he is struggling to learn a trade while serving as a Christian elder and pioneer minister (a full-time Kingdom proclaimer).

Bill has been working for several years to reduce his expenses so that he can pioneer, as his two children already are doing. For several months, however, he has spent most of his time working on the local congregation’s new Kingdom Hall. Now his bills have mounted up again. “It seems like my pioneering keeps receding into the distance,” he says wistfully. “It’s frustrating.”

These men and their families, like Jehovah’s Witnesses everywhere, are fighting to maintain spiritual balance in these “last days” with their “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) Do the problems of these Christians sound familiar?

Of particular concern are certain large business organizations that prey on unsuspecting people, promising them riches for just a few hours of work per week. Some sincere individuals have been led to believe that they would soon be able to make a comfortable living working part time, and that they could “even pioneer,” serving as full-time Kingdom proclaimers. Such business ventures may lead a Christian to try to recruit fellow believers into the sales organization of the company.

Most of these ventures involve sales meetings and assemblies where the “love of money” is cultivated as “successful” salesmen show off their diamond rings and brag about their new cars. Can you imagine the apostle Paul sitting in the audience and cheering such a presentation? Would he be putting pressure on fellow Christians to sell products for him, perhaps improperly encouraging them to do so right in the congregation’s meeting place? (Philippians 3:7-9)

Furthermore, those who have tried to balance a bicycle that is standing still appreciate the importance of forward momentum in maintaining balance. This point is vital because in recent years some have misused or misunderstood the expression “spiritual balance.” “Do not spend so much time in the field ministry,” they have said. “Spend more time at home with your family. Be balanced!” Following such improper advice has slowed the forward momentum of some and has hurt them spiritually, causing them to fall prey to self-indulgence.​—2 Peter 2:3; 3:11, 12.

Here, then, are some keys to maintaining spiritual balance. (1) Stay spiritually healthy, cultivating wisdom, understanding and self-control. (2) Avoid dangerous spiritual terrain, such as the subtle trap of materialism. (3) Know and work on your own weak or unbalanced areas. (4) Do not slack off in the field ministry, but keep up your forward momentum in Jehovah’s service.