Blessings, Burnout & A Bunch Of Bull

As many of you know, I took last week off for a pastor’s retreat in Oklahoma. Wow! What a much needed time of refreshment and restoration I experienced. There’s something that happens when we can get away from the hustle of life and relax in the Spirit of God. It’s amazing how my view changed as I soaked in the sap of the tree of life. Kim Wenzel, the host of this retreat is a wonderful teacher and man of God. Together we explored numerous truths from Scripture that not only helped me sort thru several struggles I have been going thru, but also reaffirmed in Whom I find my strength. Not that I ever forgot, but sometimes I confess that I think everything is up to me! (I’m sure none of you struggle with that, right?)  One thing Kim talked about was how we are so geared to be success oriented in our Christianity. We feel that if we’re not being blessed with health, wealth and prosperity in life, something must be wrong. But in reality, that way of thinking is a form of selfishness. We believe that if we do the will of God surely He will bless us beyond measure. And if we’re not being blessed, we think that we’re not doing something right. But the people we read about in scripture didn’t experience that kind of life. In fact, many of the heroes of our faith would not have been successful in our American, Christian culture. Many times the cause for spiritual burnout comes from striving to live a successful Christian life or have a more successful ministry. And a lot of us aren’t as focused on God as much as we’re focused on the success part. Yet Jesus told us to “seek the kingdom of God first…” The impetus for all that we do must be God. The power for ministry that happens in and thru our lives must be the Spirit of God. If we try to live life by our own power – by the flesh and for our own success – we’re quickly headed for trouble. When we’re operating solely in our own strength, our own wisdom, our own ability and know-how, we’ll strive to climb the ladder of success and self-promotion. And eventually, some one very likely will come along and knock the ladder out from under us… where does that leave us? Flat on our faces. But how much does worldly success matter in God’s economy anyway? Not a lot… God measures success much differently. He may make you the King, like David. But He also may ask you to live your life on some isle of Patmos with stale food, no bed, and alone like the Apostle John. You may be promoted to second in command of Egypt like Joseph. Or you may suffer trials and hardship like Job. Regardless, keep God as your focus. Don’t get pulled away by the “pipe dream” that you can have a better life now if you’ll just work harder for the Lord. That’s a bunch of bull. And it most likely will lead you to disappointment, disillusionment, and burnout… If the best we have to look forward to is this life and our circumstances, we’re a pitiful bunch of folks. Thank the Lord this is not our destiny.

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