Zeal Without Burnout: Seven Keys to a Lifelong Ministry of Sustainable Sacrifice by Christopher Ash
Good Book Company, 2016
Thousands of people leave Christian ministry every month. They have not lost their love for Christ, or their desire to serve him. But for one reason or another, they are exhausted and cannot carry on. Christopher Ash knows this experience all too well. As a pastor of a growing church and in his role training people for ministry, he has found himself on the edge of burnout many times. He has pastored many younger ministers who have reached the end of their rope. He has distilled his wisdom into this short, accessible book, in which he reveals a neglected biblical truth and seven keys that flow from it.
According to Christopher Ash, an often-overlooked biblical truth is this: “You and I came from dust and our bodies will return to dust. At no point of our lives in this age are we far away from reverting to dust. We are very fragile.”
This book builds on that truth and offers seven practical areas of help for Christians who may be at risk for or experiencing burnout:
- We need sleep
- We need Sabbath rests
- We need friends
- We need inward renewal
- A warning
- An encouragement
- A delight
Timeless truths wrapped in smart new packaging are motivating. I journaled about the first four points and translated my ideas into simple, daily changes. My outlook, energy, and productivity improved. The last three chapters include a warning to check our motivations, a reminder of the encouragement that comes from knowing that we are working for an eternal purpose, and the promise of joy. There is something helpful here for everyone, whether or not you’re experiencing burnout, and it’s a quick read.
How are you doing, reader? Are you working energetically in ministry, or are you pulling away for one reason or another? Which of Ash’s seven points intrigue you the most?
