Why do some people burn out? Why are others on fire? Our research uncovered some amazing answers from two unusual sources:
Churches- The Bible
Don’t get me wrong. Churches are loaded with people on the edge of burnout. Why? Because they have not learned the lessons from:
- Their Leader, Jesus.
- Their Playbook, the Bible.
No offense, church people. And people in business – you can learn from this, too, whether you are a “believer” or not.
In the Old Testament, Moses was asked to do a big project: lead a few thousand slaves out of Egypt. Moses said the job was too big. You might call it “anticipatory burnout.” So God showed up and spoke to Moses in a burning bush. Would that get your attention?
The bush was on fire but did not burn out. Why? God was in the bush. If you haven’t tried God, that’s a small fringe benefit – there are many others!
But there’s more: Jesus, God’s Son, set up a system of “no burnt out, on-fire people.” Here’s the formula:
- There’s no such thing as a “job” for believers. It’s a “calling” no matter what you do.
- No one can explain it, not even me. It’s Divine energy. Check history. Many believers are examples.
- Followers of Jesus get “spiritual gifts.” Discover your gifts, find your niche. You’ll learn how your Creator uniquely designed you. You are in your sweet spot!
- God created the work/rest cycle. You shouldn’t break it (though some pastors and Christians try).
Here’s the kicker: our research in churches shows a high percentage of congregations who ignore God’s plan. So don’t look to just any church to check out this model. So many churches operate with “volunteers.” Jesus never asked, “Can I get a volunteer?” What a cheap imitation of a divine call!
The modern term of this is “intrinsic motivation.” People who work for the fun of it love what they do. The paycheck? An afterthought, yet greatly appreciated. They produce more than anyone else. Do you need to learn this from God? Could most Christians/churches?
Your Choice: Burn out or Burn on!
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