Burn Out? Or Burned Up!

BURNED OUT? OR BURNED UP!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

BURN OUT? BURNED UP? I CRY WHEN I THINK OF THIS STORY? WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

Many years ago I pastored in a mission work in the mountains. I was the head of the volunteer Chaplain ministry at the hospital. There was a successful pastor that joined with the program. His church had grown and he was a powerful man of God. I had dreamed about this preacher sinking in quick sand. I woke up that night very concerned about him. I prayed for him. I called the next morning and asked him to join me for lunch. We agreed. We ordered our food and sat down at the table together. I explained to him about my dream and my concern. I asked him: WHAT’S GOING ON? CAN I HELP? He started opening up to me. I SAID: SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT BURNED OUT. In great anger, he hit the table and said: “I AM NOT ABOUT BURNED OUT --- I AM BURNED UP.” They don’t pay me right. He went on to explain: Over ½ of his leadership team was not faithful to attend church services. He called for the leaders to come together and pray and no one showed up. His Sunday School teachers never showed up to teach their classes and no one called him to inform him. He said: MY DEACONS DON’T DEACON! No one shares my burdens. He then said: “I AM NOT BURNED OUT, “I AM BURNED UP!”

We had prayer together and he left in great anger. A month later I saw a U-HAUL TRUCK backed up to the parsonage. I stopped and he explained, HE WAS SICK AND FED UP WITH THE LACK OF ZEAL FOR THE LORD’S WORK. He quit! There was no talking him out, this was his FINAL DECISION.

He left our state and moved to another state. He refused to attend church. Later I heard he and his wife were separated and divorcing in a bitter battle. She sued for the kids and won. He found another woman, then another and he married again. He went into business for himself and was making huge money.

I lost track of him through the years. I was in a large city making a hospital visit. I was sitting by the window in Duff’s Restaurant and I saw this big rig pull up. The truck had my friend’s name on the side. I wondered, could this be my preacher friend? I saw him climb out of the truck. It was my friend. We weren’t young any more. I walked to the door and greeted him and invited him to eat with me.

We discussed many years ago and what we were doing. He owned several rigs and was on the road all the time. He made big money. I had thought many times through the years: WAS HE RIGHT QUITTING? WAS I RIGHT FOR STAYING IN THE MINISTRY? He had been in several marriages. His kids would not talk to him and he was miserable. I came right out and asked him? He informed me that he would give anything to go back to pastor that church again. He said life had distorted the facts and things were not nearly as bad as he thought. We cried together. He said I have made 1,000 times more money than you. I buy anything I desire, but I have nothing. He looked me in the eyes and said: BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT AND IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. We hugged, he paid for my meal. I have thought of him so many times. I ask God for tender mercy and amazing grace for him and his family.

LIFE HAS A WAY OF DISTORTING OUR FEELINGS TO MAKE US FEEL LIKE QUITTING IS OUR ONLY OPTION. I ASK YOU TODAY: ARE YOU NEAR BURN OUT OR ARE YOU JUST BURNED UP IN ANGER. Think about it.

BURN OUT? DISTORTING THE FACTS. COME WITH ME TO A LITTLE TOWN IN ISRAEL CALLED ZIG-LAG. SAUL THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL WAS CONVINCED DAVID WAS OUT TO STEAL THE THRONE AND KILL SAUL’S FAMILY. TOGETHER IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE! NOW I AM RUNNING FOR MY LIFE.

David was OVERWHELMED under a HEAVY LOAD. Saul’s son JONATHAN was David’s best friend. JONATHAN tried to convince his dad that David was not the enemy. David was FALSELY ACCUSED. Study the facts, David had saved Saul’s life on several occasions.

GOD CAN’T YOU SEE WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH? DAVID AND 600 SUPPORTERS HAD TO FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES. David loved Saul, his family and his home with Jessie and his brothers. David was forced away from his home and many of his family. For safety purposes David had to live in the enemy’s camp with the PHILISTINES. This was not in David’s wildest dreams.