913) I work too much. My teenage self scoffs at this because I was quite the opposite then. Not now. If I’m not teaching, I’m grading papers. If I’m not working on the prequel for my novel, The Bottle House, I’m working on “Minutes” that many of you receive daily. If I’m not doing a custom sewing job for someone, I’m making new valances to put in my Etsy shop. I hate the “look” of my just sitting on the sofa, dog in lap, reading a book–though I love to do this. Bottom line, I do too  much.

In Luke 10:38-40, we see someone else who is in similar circumstances. Jesus is visiting his friends in Bethany again at the home of Mary and Martha (and, though not mentioned here, Lazarus). We find Martha running around, doing everything she can to make her guest feel welcomed. She is cooking, cleaning, serving, doing dishes and more and justifies her working herself to death by thinking she’s doing God’s work, making Jesus feel welcomed in her home.

Her sister, Mary, however, isn’t doing any of these things. Instead, she sits with Jesus and has a long conversation with him. I don’t think this shows that Mary doesn’t want to serve a good meal, have a neat home and more. I think this indicates the difference between the two women’s priorities and this dictates what leads to burnout.

Jesus tells Martha that doing too much, even if it is for a good purpose, is not what he wants for his children. God longed to spend time with people in Jesus’ day and he does now. Burnout prevents us from doing anything God wants from us. So I will tell myself, Slow down. Take a break. Be quiet. Hear what God wants to say and talk to him. There is no good justification for burnout.