Burnouts are caused not by too much work, but by “perceived” meaningless work.

Isn’t it true that if the work we are doing is fun and meaningful, time goes by so fast, but when we don’t see what good it really does for anyone, time really slows down? And when we continue to work in an environment that we perceive to be meaningless, we will experience a burnout. And we might only be working 4 hours a day and will still experience the burnout if we perceive it to be meaningless.

I put a quotation mark around the word “perceived” for a reason. Two people could be doing the same work but one will consider it meaningful and the other will consider it meaningless. What determines the meaningful or meaninglessness of a work?

Maybe an illustration will help: Two bricklayers were laying bricks for a building. Both were asked what they were doing. One said grumpily, “I’m laying bricks, can’t you see?” The other said cheerfully, “I’m building a cathedral for God!”

Same work. Two different perspectives…

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8

What makes our work meaningful is not the immediate result we see. It’s the work done in faith hoping to see its fruit in the next life. Again, it’s seeing the unseen and working for the future in the present that brings meaning to our work. Anyone can do the work cheerfully if it has its immediate return, but only Christians can work cheerfully even if it has no immediate return because he’s looking for a reward in heaven.

PH