DO NOT WEAR YOURSELF OUT
DO NOT WEAR YOURSELF OUT.
Do you sometimes find yourself doing much more than you should at home, at church or at the work place? Well I know that the pressure to perform and be the best is a constant fixture in our lives today. However wearing oneself thin is not the answer. Nobody is immune to stress and fatigue so it is very important to not overdo it so as not to burn out and run the risk of becoming unproductive. Our very lives are of great interest to God and overworking ourselves can eventually cut us off from him in every way: emotionally, spiritually and even physically. People have literally died of an overdose of work. King Solomon calls it foolishness. “Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?” Ecclesiastes 7:17 NKJV When we work ourselves to an early grave it cannot be pleasing to God. After all He promised us length of days!
Here is some advice for you if you fall into the category of people slowly working themselves to death. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses saved him from burn out with his wise counsel. The Israelites were coming to Moses for all kinds of consultation and settlement of disputes and he was at it all day and not achieving much. Well Jethro saw this and was shocked asking Moses if he was really accomplishing anything. “Then Jethro said, “You are not doing this right. You will wear yourself out and these people as well. This is too much for you to do alone. Now let me give you some good advice, and God will be with you…. You should teach them God’s commands and explain to them how they should live and what they should do. But in addition, you should choose some capable men and appoint them as leaders of the people: leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They must be God-fearing men who can be trusted and who cannot be bribed.” Exodus 18: 17-20 GNT
Now there is a place to “teach” employees what is expected of them. Give them a schedule, a hand book, an operating procedure; be as clear and as detailed as possible so that there will be no ambiguity. Then appoint supervisors or managers over them so that you are not running around trying to do everything yourself. This will work with domestics as well. Teach them what you expect from them. It will help. You cannot have had a most challenging day at work and still be running around the kitchen or laundry. Exhaustion will be knocking at your door in no time. If your children are fairly grown up and are still at home let them help you too.
For some of us who are running multiple businesses…. we cannot do it all alone. Let us take a lesson from David the shepherd boy (before he became king). David was the last of Jesse’s sons and his older brothers were at the battle front with Saul. We know that David was a very good shepherd because he told of how he protected the sheep yet he was still able to do other things. “And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.” 1 Samuel 17: 20 KJV David must have identified one of the other shepherds as being responsible enough to take charge in his absence. We know that David was also an accomplished musician – an instrumentalist and a song writer. He had time to do other things even kill a giant!
Elijah the prophet also had a melt down. He was exhausted. He contemplated suicide. “It’s too much, Lord,” he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!” 1 Kings 19: 4 GNT But God sent him help when he cried out. God had prepared Hazael, Jehu and an assistant named Elisha who would even succeed him. (1 Kings 19: 15-17)
Even Jesus Christ our Lord hired twelve disciples to work with Him because He could not possibly do everything by Himself.
Start grooming somebody or some people to do things with you and for you. It will give you a breather, let you work with a clear head and you will accomplish much more.
GOD STILL NEEDS YOU ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY. PLEASE DO NOT WEAR YOUR SELF OUT! J
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©