NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH
LESSON 21—SOLOMON'S FALL (BURN OUT)
Further reading: 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 1, 2, & 3, Romans 12
Ecclesiastes 2:9-11 (HCSB) So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
THE SECRET TO NOT BURNING OUT IS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO.
Romans 12:11 (MSG) Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servantsof the Master …
1. Your motive determines your motivation.
2. If your motive is not eternal your motivation will not last.
Ecclesiastes 1:1, 3, 9 (ESV) Everything is meaningless under the sun … What do people gain from their work under the sun?… There is nothing new under the sun …
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 (ESV) Under heaven … He has set eternity in our hearts …Everything God does will endure forever …
3. If Jesus is your motive you will never burn out.
Romans 12:6-18 (MSG) If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.
Romans 12:14-18 (MSG) Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.