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 utter futility…. of every manmade (and 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 your exhausted hands reach up to God, GOOD!
But…
If we collapse at Satan's feet, beware! Invisible chains attach us to him. Like...
Apathy: the careless mindset that nothing matters.
Boredom: the foggy mindset that sees nothing new.
Skepticism: the fear-based mindset that doubts everything.
Inactivity: the lazy mindset that’s hopelessly stuck.
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 be in the abyss with him. Become aware of his smoldering schemes…
Remember, when Satan was Lucifer, he was a beautiful, BUSY angel, and NEVER fall 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!