Beginnings: Your Enemy, Burnout
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
Says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless…”
“All things are wearisome,
More than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
Nor the ear its fill of hearing.
There is nothing new under the sun…”
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, 9, 14 (NIV)
When he began writing Ecclesiastes, King Solomon shared his utter burnout. Earth’s wisest, richest, and most powerful man realized the total futility…. of every man-driven, godless pursuit.
No one has been smarter, more productive, or more respected than King Solomon. But along the way, this high achiever got caught in “the chase” and forgot The Goal.
The result? Burnout: 'fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity' (Random House Dictionary).
Burnout’s result? Nothing satisfies, feels right, or makes sense. Its victims get tired, give in, or give up. If exhausted hands reach up to the Lord, GOOD!
But…
If we collapse at Satan's feet, beware! Invisible chains attach us to him. Like...
Apathy: a zoned-out mindset where nothing matters.
Boredom: a foggy mindset that sees nothing new.
Skepticism: a fear-based mindset that doubts everything.
Inactivity: a lazy mindset that’s stuck in the muck.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Burnout is a strategy of Satan: Because the dark ‘Angel of the abyss' (Revelation 9:11) wants us to live in the abyss with him, become aware of his smoldering schemes…
Remember: when Satan was Lucifer, he was a beautiful, BUSY angel. Perhaps he fell into “BUSYNESS” traps!
Because sometimes, God's business can be forgotten in PERSONAL BUSYNESS: chasing goals our Captain didn’t assign, including money, power, perks, and fame.
However, Solomon chased NONE of these. His downfall began through his attachments to women who didn’t share his values.
Initially, his burnout confused him. When he cried, 'What is crooked cannot be straightened' (Ecclesiastes 1:15), the world's wisest man was fooled for a time. Because with God, all things are possible. 'I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight' (Isaiah 42:16).
Consider anti-burnout strategies:
If you’re TOO busy, then pray about it. Follow your calling. Don’t get distracted or say “yes” to unnecessary things.
Be kind, but don’t “hang” with ungodly friends. Going into the world is your duty. Getting TOO close to outsiders is not.
Don't settle for an unproductive life. If you’ve wasted years in the wrong pursuits, don’t fret. Make the time to pursue your dream!
Embrace each day with the joy of children. Look for God’s Hand in EVERYTHING you see. He says if we seek, then SURELY we’ll find!
Love newness. Challenge yourself with new things. No matter your age, you MUST keep growing. (Stale routines and outlooks are from Satan.)
Burnout and boredom will NEVER plague us, when we’re walking hand-in-Hand with the Lord.
Beginnings: Your Enemy, Burnout (Part 7)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!