The Courage to Rest: What Jesus Teaches Overworked Servant Leaders

Good Sunday morning, Servant Leaders. As most of you already know, I took a week off to rest, relax, recharge, and enjoy some “life” with my better half. Halfway through that respite, I’m reminded that Matthew 11:28-30 was telling me all along how to handle the challenges of today’s business environment.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

There is a dangerous lie that circulates through business, ministry, government contracting, and nearly every leadership environment:

The more exhausted you are, the more faithful you must be.

We wear burnout like a badge of honor. We celebrate eighty-hour work weeks. We admire leaders who answer emails at midnight and return to work before sunrise. Somewhere along the way, exhaustion became evidence of commitment.

But Jesus never said, "Come to Me, all who are productive and overcommitted."

This picture from this week’s Jeep Invasion tells part of that story.

Question: Where do we park when the parking lot is full?

Answer: When you drive a Jeep…anywhere you want!

That’s the same mentality we use in business. We take on task after task, and when our coffers are full and our bandwidth is gone, we find somewhere else to pull from to make it work. Often that “somewhere” is time we should dedicate to worship, family, or rest. As in my previous post, God gave us the Sabbath for a reason.

Don’t be like these Jeepers and find a way to make it work.

Give your family the time they deserve.

Give yourself the time you need.

And Give your God the time He requires.

That’s work-life balance, Servant Leader.

And it’s as good for your business as it is for you.