From Burnout to Balance: A Recent Encounter

Day 2

The Servant's Paradox: When Service Becomes Burden

'Jesus interrupted their argument, saying, "The kings and men of authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, claiming that they do it for the good of the people. They are obsessed with how others see them. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a different model. The greatest one among you will live as one called to serve others without honor. The greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one who has a servant heart. The leaders who are served are the most important in your eyes, but in the kingdom, it is the servants who lead. Am I not here with you as one who serves?' Luke 22:25-27 (TPT)

The Scene: A Servant's Confusion

My name is Joel. I'm serving tonight. The scene before me is confusing. The Rabbi Jesus is talking about enduring suffering. His twelve disciples are arguing about who will be greatest in the kingdom. Am I watching a revolt? Clearly something big is coming. But if Jesus would be king, how will he suffer? He'll be sitting on a throne in royal comfort, fed grapes by day and sleeping on a fluffed pillow by night.

What part will the disciples play in Jesus' court? Will they be wise council or fools for his entertainment? Jesus leads the disciples through a Passover Supper, with a little melancholy, it seems. There's a weight on his shoulders. He reclines in contemplative silence as the twelve drink and converse around him. The contrast between royal ascent and his current mood is a sour note that floats against the tide of power I assume will soon be his.

What's really going on? What game piece am I missing?

The Wrestling: Church Service and Burnout

Last night, I attended a worship service, and with the accompanying sermon, a final puzzle piece slid into place for me. A female pastor brought an insight to an issue I've been publicly wrestling with—the emphasis of a single word: only. I'll explain.

During my 80-day prayer journey through the Gospels, I had a breakthrough unmasking moment when I told the Mary/Martha story from Martha's perspective. (I recently posted this article for reference.) Martha's perspective excavated my anger and disappointment with the church. My anger as I watch Church people, a majority of whom are women, serve their hearts out, serving and serving. I posed the question:

Black Women: Cherished Servants, or Beasts of Burden?

I later told the story of a conversation I had with a dear friend who helped me understand that most of God's servants are burnt out, from the pulpit to the pew.

The Breakthrough: The Power of "Only"

So, last night, the pastor preached from Philippians 2. In this passage, Paul talks about the importance of putting others before themselves in service. In my spirit, I immediately began to wrestle. I thought, 'Here we go with another sermon asking us to put ourselves on the Cross.' Because that was done once and for all, and we are called to pick up our cross, not get on it in an act of martyrdom.

We are not, in my opinion, called to be martyrs—in general.

The way things are going, martyrdom may be coming. But that should not be in the context of serving in the church.

This pastor qualified her message about church service with phrases like, 'We're not called to be doormats,' and 'We're not asking you to serve to death.'

And the fist I clenched began to relax, opening itself to receive the words she offered.

She quoted this passage: 'Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.' Philippians 2:4

Now, I'm no preacher, so please excuse what might be the inaccuracy of my communication of her point. But she emphasized the word, 'only' in this passage. She said, we should not only look out for our own interests, but that we should still look out for our own interests. When she said only, she moved her hand through the air as if underlining the word. I perked up, sat up straight, and moved to the edge of my seat. She spent a while in this vein and then moved on to the importance of being humble like Jesus.

My plan is to listen to this sermon again and suck the marrow from this meaty message.

The Resolution: Fearful Symmetry

For right now, my conclusion is that yes, Jesus came to the earth to serve. But we must look at how he served. He challenged the Pharisees. He turned over tables and booths in the Temple.

There's a meekness AND a power in the way he served.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias, a famous apologist, called this a 'fearful symmetry.'

I'm chewing on the meat of true discipleship. And last night, it was pretty tasty.