I often wonder how a line from, “Hey Hey, My My” by Neil Young managed to become a Christian mantra. “It’s better to burn out than to fade away,” wasn’t just famous because of the song but it became infamous after being quoted in Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s suicide note.
A similar sentiment can be attributed to a Turkish Businessman called Ahmet Ertegun who said “I think it’s better to burn out than to fade away… it’s better to live out your days being very, very active – even if it destroys you – than to quietly… disappear.”
I am not in favour of fading away or quietly disappearing, but I’ve got to say that I don’t like the idea of burning out either. It’s time that we realised that it isn’t better to be so busy that we burn out! It’s not a biblical concept, and we need to stop treating it like it is. God made us in three parts, and we need to make sure that we don’t burn out in any of them!
Physical Burn Out
Prolonged stress, or life without boundaries, can often have a physical impact. It’s important to recognise that in order to function we need to look after the bodies God gave us. God promises that He will strengthen us but also wants us to take responsibility and take care of our physical needs.
I will strengthen the weary and renew those who are weak.
Jeremiah 31:25 CEB
Emotional Burn Out
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
These verses speak of rest for the soul. Emotional rest, as well as physical rest, is essential. It’s all too easy to carry emotional burdens which we were never meant to carry, that’s why God wants us to take off the yoke that is self-inflicted and exchange it for his. He is much more gentle than we are!
Spiritual Burn Out
It’s too easy to move from doing things with the strength that God gives to trying to do things in our own strength. Spiritual burnout is the result of giving and giving without being renewed by the Holy Spirit. Spending time with God will regenerate you!
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 ESV
- Are you burntout or close to it?
- Which of the three areas do you feel weakest in?
- What can you do today to be recharged?
