Burn Out!

Burn-out can be defined as an overwhelming feeling of physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual exhaustion.  The causes are as limitless as the signs are ominous:

• Sickness
• Chronic fatigue
• Susceptibility to flu-like symptoms
• Angry outbursts
• Withdrawal

Is there an area in your life where are you dealing with a bit of burn-out?  Martha is one of the best examples of burn-out in all of sacred Scripture.  Luke 10:40 records that “Martha was distracted with much serving.”  Martha was doing a good thing.  In fact, she was doing the best thing: she was serving our Lord Jesus Christ.  But when her service for Jesus became more important than Jesus Himself, she had moved into the realm of burn-out.  Her service actually separated her from Jesus, rather than drawing them closer together.  What she did had become more important than who she was—a child of the Most High God.  Martha had placed her sense of identity in her service, not in her Savior.

Enter Mary. While Martha was frantically preparing a meal for her Lord, Mary was sitting contentedly on the floor at the feet of Jesus.  The difference between Mary and Martha is found in the simple fact that Mary knew her relationship with Jesus was more important than her service for Jesus.  Do you know this truth?  What does the confession of your life say?

Frazzled and frustrated, Martha cried out to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.”  Jesus responded to Martha’s complaint, but His response was not directed at Mary; He spoke instead to Martha’s condition.  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”  And herein lies the cure for burn-out, regardless of its cause:  sitting at the feet of Jesus!

I can tell you from personal experience as a minister that it is easy to get so wrapped up in serving that you forget your Savior.  Like the “energizer bunny,” you just keep going . . . and going . . . and going . . . and going . . . until one day you discover you’ve burned out!

Someone once said it is better to burn out than rust out.  I suppose if I had to choose between the two, I would choose to burn out.  I am not a “sideline” kind of guy.  But as Christians, we don’t have to choose between burning out and rusting out.  We simply need to remember what Mary remembered: our Savior is always more important than our service.  Wherever you might be facing a bit of burn-out right now, pause a moment and choose the “good portion,” as Mary did.  You will be far better able to face any of life’s challenges after sitting at His feet.

This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!