Burnt Toast
All day we give out. Our phone is buzzing. Things are needed of us.
We are in a rhythm, but one that works us all the way to the couch at the end of a long day. We live in a hustle culture, where they say being on the grind and achieving the American dream is the only true way to live. Society makes it seem that if we aren’t in this rhythm of go-go-go, we’re taking lazy street.
When we make work our everything, it costs us. Often, we don’t realize the cost until we are burnt out. You can leave a piece of bread in the toaster for a minute or so, but anymore than that? Burnt. Unless you have an acquired taste for blackened food, no one will eat burnt toast. It’s inedible. Much like bread, when we sit in our work too long, not pulling away to spend time with Jesus, we are burnt out…we are unusable.
The kind of work that leaves people burnt out is the kind that is done without God. We should all work hard at what we do, but often we find ourselves using that as an excuse for idolizing natural things, having misplaced priorities, and neglecting our relationship with God.
Work that is done solely by one’s natural ability has some weight to it. A woman named Martha understood this quite well.
Unlike her sister Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet, Martha was distracted by her many tasks. She felt the weight of these tasks, so much so, that she interrupted the Master.
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
Despite Martha being wound up tight, Jesus responded with love and gentleness. While the Bible doesn’t say as far as I know, I’m sure this response brought her to tears…or perhaps her knees. I know it would for me.
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice and it will not be taken away from her.”
God knows that when we take moments throughout the day to get alone with Him, we will be much better off. Taking time away from the busyness is a choice, but it is vital in avoiding burn out. God has so much to share with us, and we can run our race better if we are in a position to receive from Him. He offers a place of rest for our souls, which He knows we so desperately need.
As we keep company with God in doing our work, we’ll live lighter and more free.
We won’t be burnt toast.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. ”