I write this submit as a confession and a request for prayer.
I’m a workaholic. I work in some capability for 3 completely different organizations, and I preach or educate virtually weekly in other places round North America. I’m busy.
On the age of 64, although, I’m evaluating my life. I need to serve nicely till the Lord calls me house, however I don’t need to put on out early. I want the Lord’s knowledge. My first step, although, is to be trustworthy about why I—and maybe you, too—lean towards workaholism.
-
- I’m an idolater. Okay, so I’m getting the powerful motive out of the best way in the beginning. Separating “I’m working arduous as a result of I like God” from “I’m working arduous as a result of work is my God” isn’t all the time straightforward for me. Once I discover my worth in my work (see the subsequent level beneath), I’ve distanced my motive for being away from merely loving and honoring God. That’s idolatry.
- I typically discover my worth in what I accomplish. I believe that tendency goes all the best way again to kindergarten the place I realized I might get affirmation if I did nicely in class. Having grown up in a chaotic house the place such affirmation was unintentionally scarce, I regarded for it elsewhere. Right this moment, I typically discover it in ministry.
- Ministry is about everlasting issues. Frankly, the difficulty of workaholism has turn out to be extra of a difficulty for me as I grow old—merely due to the pressing nature of the gospel. What we do has everlasting ramifications as we share the gospel with non-believers, disciple new believers, shepherd different believers, and plant wholesome church buildings. It’s powerful to take a break when a lot is at stake.
- Ministry is itself non-ending. I admit that I may do a greater job at scheduling and saying “no,” however the nature of ministry is that there is no such thing as a stopping level. At all times there are extra folks to succeed in, extra sermons to organize, extra church members to information, extra weddings and funerals to return. To take a break appears (though it’s not the case) virtually ungodly.
- I’m nonetheless studying to relaxation in God with silence and solitude. These mixed disciplines are troublesome for me, although I’m a heavy-duty introvert. I’ve to be intentional about scheduling these occasions to easily sit nonetheless and be with God. The truth is, I’ve written about my private dedication this week relating to silence and solitude, and I invite you to hitch me.
Right here’s my first step in tackling my workaholism at this level in my life: ask prayer warriors to hope deliberately for me that I’ll (1) work arduous out of affection for God and folks; (2) work arduous whereas additionally letting go of my want for achievement and recognition; and (3) hear once more the Lord’s clear command that I need to get bodily relaxation to finest expertise non secular relaxation in Him. Would you whisper that prayer for me immediately?
And, tell us if you happen to’d like our Church Solutions household to hope for you.
Posted on Could 22, 2025
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a number one knowledgeable in non secular session, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Solutions to supply recommendation and counsel for church leaders.
Extra from Chuck
I write this submit as a confession and a request for prayer.
I’m a workaholic. I work in some capability for 3 completely different organizations, and I preach or educate virtually weekly in other places round North America. I’m busy.
On the age of 64, although, I’m evaluating my life. I need to serve nicely till the Lord calls me house, however I don’t need to put on out early. I want the Lord’s knowledge. My first step, although, is to be trustworthy about why I—and maybe you, too—lean towards workaholism.
-
- I’m an idolater. Okay, so I’m getting the powerful motive out of the best way in the beginning. Separating “I’m working arduous as a result of I like God” from “I’m working arduous as a result of work is my God” isn’t all the time straightforward for me. Once I discover my worth in my work (see the subsequent level beneath), I’ve distanced my motive for being away from merely loving and honoring God. That’s idolatry.
- I typically discover my worth in what I accomplish. I believe that tendency goes all the best way again to kindergarten the place I realized I might get affirmation if I did nicely in class. Having grown up in a chaotic house the place such affirmation was unintentionally scarce, I regarded for it elsewhere. Right this moment, I typically discover it in ministry.
- Ministry is about everlasting issues. Frankly, the difficulty of workaholism has turn out to be extra of a difficulty for me as I grow old—merely due to the pressing nature of the gospel. What we do has everlasting ramifications as we share the gospel with non-believers, disciple new believers, shepherd different believers, and plant wholesome church buildings. It’s powerful to take a break when a lot is at stake.
- Ministry is itself non-ending. I admit that I may do a greater job at scheduling and saying “no,” however the nature of ministry is that there is no such thing as a stopping level. At all times there are extra folks to succeed in, extra sermons to organize, extra church members to information, extra weddings and funerals to return. To take a break appears (though it’s not the case) virtually ungodly.
- I’m nonetheless studying to relaxation in God with silence and solitude. These mixed disciplines are troublesome for me, although I’m a heavy-duty introvert. I’ve to be intentional about scheduling these occasions to easily sit nonetheless and be with God. The truth is, I’ve written about my private dedication this week relating to silence and solitude, and I invite you to hitch me.
Right here’s my first step in tackling my workaholism at this level in my life: ask prayer warriors to hope deliberately for me that I’ll (1) work arduous out of affection for God and folks; (2) work arduous whereas additionally letting go of my want for achievement and recognition; and (3) hear once more the Lord’s clear command that I need to get bodily relaxation to finest expertise non secular relaxation in Him. Would you whisper that prayer for me immediately?
And, tell us if you happen to’d like our Church Solutions household to hope for you.
Posted on Could 22, 2025
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a number one knowledgeable in non secular session, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Solutions to supply recommendation and counsel for church leaders.
Extra from Chuck
I write this submit as a confession and a request for prayer.
I’m a workaholic. I work in some capability for 3 completely different organizations, and I preach or educate virtually weekly in other places round North America. I’m busy.
On the age of 64, although, I’m evaluating my life. I need to serve nicely till the Lord calls me house, however I don’t need to put on out early. I want the Lord’s knowledge. My first step, although, is to be trustworthy about why I—and maybe you, too—lean towards workaholism.
-
- I’m an idolater. Okay, so I’m getting the powerful motive out of the best way in the beginning. Separating “I’m working arduous as a result of I like God” from “I’m working arduous as a result of work is my God” isn’t all the time straightforward for me. Once I discover my worth in my work (see the subsequent level beneath), I’ve distanced my motive for being away from merely loving and honoring God. That’s idolatry.
- I typically discover my worth in what I accomplish. I believe that tendency goes all the best way again to kindergarten the place I realized I might get affirmation if I did nicely in class. Having grown up in a chaotic house the place such affirmation was unintentionally scarce, I regarded for it elsewhere. Right this moment, I typically discover it in ministry.
- Ministry is about everlasting issues. Frankly, the difficulty of workaholism has turn out to be extra of a difficulty for me as I grow old—merely due to the pressing nature of the gospel. What we do has everlasting ramifications as we share the gospel with non-believers, disciple new believers, shepherd different believers, and plant wholesome church buildings. It’s powerful to take a break when a lot is at stake.
- Ministry is itself non-ending. I admit that I may do a greater job at scheduling and saying “no,” however the nature of ministry is that there is no such thing as a stopping level. At all times there are extra folks to succeed in, extra sermons to organize, extra church members to information, extra weddings and funerals to return. To take a break appears (though it’s not the case) virtually ungodly.
- I’m nonetheless studying to relaxation in God with silence and solitude. These mixed disciplines are troublesome for me, although I’m a heavy-duty introvert. I’ve to be intentional about scheduling these occasions to easily sit nonetheless and be with God. The truth is, I’ve written about my private dedication this week relating to silence and solitude, and I invite you to hitch me.
Right here’s my first step in tackling my workaholism at this level in my life: ask prayer warriors to hope deliberately for me that I’ll (1) work arduous out of affection for God and folks; (2) work arduous whereas additionally letting go of my want for achievement and recognition; and (3) hear once more the Lord’s clear command that I need to get bodily relaxation to finest expertise non secular relaxation in Him. Would you whisper that prayer for me immediately?
And, tell us if you happen to’d like our Church Solutions household to hope for you.
Posted on Could 22, 2025
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a number one knowledgeable in non secular session, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Solutions to supply recommendation and counsel for church leaders.
Extra from Chuck
I write this submit as a confession and a request for prayer.
I’m a workaholic. I work in some capability for 3 completely different organizations, and I preach or educate virtually weekly in other places round North America. I’m busy.
On the age of 64, although, I’m evaluating my life. I need to serve nicely till the Lord calls me house, however I don’t need to put on out early. I want the Lord’s knowledge. My first step, although, is to be trustworthy about why I—and maybe you, too—lean towards workaholism.
-
- I’m an idolater. Okay, so I’m getting the powerful motive out of the best way in the beginning. Separating “I’m working arduous as a result of I like God” from “I’m working arduous as a result of work is my God” isn’t all the time straightforward for me. Once I discover my worth in my work (see the subsequent level beneath), I’ve distanced my motive for being away from merely loving and honoring God. That’s idolatry.
- I typically discover my worth in what I accomplish. I believe that tendency goes all the best way again to kindergarten the place I realized I might get affirmation if I did nicely in class. Having grown up in a chaotic house the place such affirmation was unintentionally scarce, I regarded for it elsewhere. Right this moment, I typically discover it in ministry.
- Ministry is about everlasting issues. Frankly, the difficulty of workaholism has turn out to be extra of a difficulty for me as I grow old—merely due to the pressing nature of the gospel. What we do has everlasting ramifications as we share the gospel with non-believers, disciple new believers, shepherd different believers, and plant wholesome church buildings. It’s powerful to take a break when a lot is at stake.
- Ministry is itself non-ending. I admit that I may do a greater job at scheduling and saying “no,” however the nature of ministry is that there is no such thing as a stopping level. At all times there are extra folks to succeed in, extra sermons to organize, extra church members to information, extra weddings and funerals to return. To take a break appears (though it’s not the case) virtually ungodly.
- I’m nonetheless studying to relaxation in God with silence and solitude. These mixed disciplines are troublesome for me, although I’m a heavy-duty introvert. I’ve to be intentional about scheduling these occasions to easily sit nonetheless and be with God. The truth is, I’ve written about my private dedication this week relating to silence and solitude, and I invite you to hitch me.
Right here’s my first step in tackling my workaholism at this level in my life: ask prayer warriors to hope deliberately for me that I’ll (1) work arduous out of affection for God and folks; (2) work arduous whereas additionally letting go of my want for achievement and recognition; and (3) hear once more the Lord’s clear command that I need to get bodily relaxation to finest expertise non secular relaxation in Him. Would you whisper that prayer for me immediately?
And, tell us if you happen to’d like our Church Solutions household to hope for you.
Posted on Could 22, 2025
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a number one knowledgeable in non secular session, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Solutions to supply recommendation and counsel for church leaders.
Extra from Chuck
