Coming back from burnout
So Jesus called them to him and said, “As you know, the kings and great men of the earth lord it over the people; but among you it is different. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant….” –Mark 10:42-43 (TLB)
I’m a doer – I like to stay busy. Unfortunately, I have a history of confusing being busy with being worthy. My propensity for busyness has sometimes found a comfortable, if toxic home in church settings I participated in. You might say I created a monster.
When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you in all earnestness, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly—don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. –Matthew 6:2-4 (TLB)
Presented with an opportunity to prove my value, my pride wouldn’t let me say no. But I couldn’t sustain the pace. It left me tired, disillusioned and bitter. Much of the work I did could have been worthwhile had it been done out of love, empowered by the Spirit of Christ, given as an offering to God. Too often, that wasn’t the case.
And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ. But there are various kinds of materials that can be used to build on that foundation. Some use gold and silver and jewels; and some build with sticks and hay or even straw! There is going to come a time of testing at Christ’s Judgment Day to see what kind of material each builder has used. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished. Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay. But if the house he has built burns up, he will have a great loss. He himself will be saved, but like a man escaping through a wall of flames. –1Corinthians 3:11-15 (TLB)
Recipe for burnout:
Serve from a sense of duty/obligation. (Gotta meet that expectation you set!)
Serve using your own strength, talent, wisdom, and resources. (How high is that ceiling?)
Serve expecting recognition/gratitude from others. (Justification for your anger when all that hard work goes unnoticed!)
Serve comparing your level of effort to that of others. (Are you winning or losing?)
Serve without sabbath. (Someone else will just screw it up if you take a break!)
God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. If anyone speaks, they should do it as one speaking God’s words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him for ever and ever. Amen. –1Peter 4:10-11 (NIVR)
I still serve, but with a different approach now. God doesn’t need my efforts. He gifts me with specific passions and abilities and invites me to join Him in His redemptive mission as I am able, in community with fellow believers. It took me a while to get it, but this serving thing is a lot more fun these days!
Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it for me.” –Matthew 25:40 (MSG)