SPIRITUAL BURN-OUT

 

Saturday, July 15, 2023

 

SPIRITUAL BURN-OUT

 

Mal 1:12-13

12 But ye have profaned it, [Temple worship] in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

 

1 Kings 19:3-4

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

 

          How are things at church? This innocent question has uncovered an uncomfortable truth. Many of us are just going through the motions. Spiritual malaise has set in, and we are not certain of the cause or causes.

 

          Spiritual malaise is that early warning system that tells us something is not quite right. Physically it might signal the onset of real illness. You are not sick, yet, but you don’t feel well. If we apply that to the church, we sense that we have a problem, and it is growing more and more serious.

 

          In Malachi, the people were tired of waiting for God to do something to help them. Their store of patience was exhausted. They had lapsed into performing rituals. Among the saddest words in the Bible are “what a weariness is it!” They were going to church, singing the songs, and giving offerings but their heart had died within them.

 

          In First Kings, the prophet had been doing fierce spiritual combat and, though he had won, he was exhausted. He had had little rest, insufficient nourishment, and scant encouragement. He literally was weary of life! His opinion of himself mirrored his exhaustion. He said, “I am not better than my fathers.” This indicated that he viewed his accomplishments as failures.

 

          Those in Malachi were offered a REBUKE. They had lost their first love and had reduced their opinion of God. They had become self-focused and reacted like spoiled children.

 

          The Prophet was offered REST. An angel was dispatched with food because Elijah had not eaten in 40 days. He ate and slept. When he arose, he ate again and slept. In his subsequent interview with God, he revealed that he had lost his focus. God reminded Elijah in verse eleven that God cannot be identified by phenomena but by spirit and thus by faith.

 

Isa 41:10

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

Blessed art Thou, O God, King of the Universe, who refreshes my body and restores my soul. AMEN