Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor: Why Being With Jesus Must Come Before Doing for Him

There’s a myth in the Church—and especially in leadership—that the more you do, the more faithful you are. But what if that’s not biblical faithfulness… it’s just burnout with a Bible verse slapped on it?

In The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Pete Scazzero writes:
"You cannot give what you do not possess."

When the deposit of Jesus in your life is outpaced by the demands on your time, burnout isn’t just likely—it’s inevitable.

We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings
So many of us live like spiritual vending machines. People press the button, and we deliver—prayers, advice, encouragement, leadership, energy, solutions.
But underneath that drive to serve is a hard truth:
We’re doing more for Jesus than we are being with Him.

Jesus never rushed. He withdrew to pray. He filled up before He poured out.
Signs You’re Outpacing Your Soul:

• You feel constantly drained but can’t stop.
• Time in prayer feels like another task, not a joy.
• You’re physically present, but mentally checked out.
• You’re quick to respond to people, but slow to respond to God.
• 
  

If that’s you—you're not broken, you’re just empty. And the fix isn’t to push through. It’s to pause and get filled again.
Reordering Your Life Around Being, Not Just Doing
Burnout isn’t solved by adding margin. It’s healed by returning to the Source—Jesus.

Here’s how you start:

1. Prioritize presence over performance.
   Schedule time with Jesus like your life depends on it—because it does.
2. Let the Word read you.
   Don’t just study Scripture for content; let it confront and comfort you.
3. Say no to stay full.
   You can’t run on empty. Jesus didn’t say, “Do everything.” He said, “Abide in me.”

At Vineyard, We’re Learning to Live with Purpose
At Vineyard Church Southern Indiana, we’re learning that faithfulness isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what Jesus actually asks of us.
We don’t want to live reactive, overloaded lives. We want to live with clarity and conviction, shaped by time with God and aligned with His direction.

Before we say yes to every opportunity, we ask:

• Is this something God has called me to?
• Am I leading from a place of connection with Jesus?
• Is what I’m doing producing spiritual fruit—or just busywork?

We’re learning that the most powerful ministry flows from intimacy, not hustle.
Because when our lives are centered on Jesus, what we do actually matters.

Join Us This Sunday
If you're weary, burned out, or just hungry for something real—come worship with us.
? 10:00 AM
? Vineyard Church Southern Indiana
727 Rolling Creek Dr., New Albany, IN

You were never meant to carry the weight of life alone.
Let Jesus fill you again.