Many today complain of being busy, stressed, and overworked. This phenomenon does not pass by those in Christian ministry, whether they are ministers, missionaries or office bearers. Statistics tell us that more and more Christian workers suffer from burnout. Meanwhile, there is a widespread denial that Christians can ever be overworked. Doesn't Paul exhort us not to be weary in well-doing and not to faint? (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13). We do well to look at some of the causes of fatigue in Christian min­istry and some cures as well. I will focus on the gospel ministry, but most of the principles apply to any position of service in the church.

Causes⤒🔗

1. A minister has a full workload. He must give himself to prayer and preaching. There is also the work involved with the administration of the sacraments, the Christian feast days, weddings, funerals, catechism classes, meetings, reports, meditations, visiting the sick, the dying, family visits, helping out vacant churches, denominational work, etc. A minister works many evenings as well as days. Because he often works Saturdays and Sundays a lot of energy is required. As the letter of call states, he is responsible for "all that pertains to the work of the min­ister of the Gospel so that it is testified to all that it shall go ill with the wicked and only those who are justified by the blood of the cross can have eternal peace."
2. Ministers have a heavy workload. It is not only the amount of work, but also the type of work that often takes its toll. In many congregations there are serious conflicts. Marital breakdowns are increasingly common. Young people have many questions and sometimes many problems. Many older people struggle with loneliness and wayward children. A minister often finds a lack of spiritual life among church members. It is a joy to visit with those who speak a great deal about the Word and ways of the Lord. But to visit those who do not look to the Lord is very difficult. To visit couples whose marriages are breaking or have broken up, to visit a family where there is conflict or abuse, requires a great deal of energy. We can carry these home with us as heavy burdens.
3. The work of the ministry is never done. When a minister comes home from work, he does not leave his workplace. The telephone rings and family time together is interrupted. Often the problem is not the heavy workload, but the awareness that so much work is left undone. This can prey on a minister's mind.
4. There is a change in how people view a minister. At one time, a minister was viewed in society as a highly respected person. When he spoke out on issues, the whole town or city took notice, even those who were not Christians. Now, the minister is seen as a peer and the authority he used to have is gone. His words are easily discarded or disputed. I do not want to say that every­thing was better in the past or that an autocratic minister matches the biblical model. Nevertheless, the "double honour" that Scripture demands for a minister (Titus 5:17) is fading.
5. A minister can easily suffer from lack in his spiritual life. It may be that his faith-life becomes routine and commonplace, or spiritual exercises deteriorate to few and are half-hearted. He may tend to laxness, be detached, misguided or suffer other effects, but primarily this problem is related to his faith life. Sometimes fatigue can lead to spiritual decline; at other times spiritual decline can lead to fatigue. Often the two feed on each other.

Cures←⤒🔗

What guidance can we offer Christian ministers who suffer from fatigue?

1. A minister must see the duties of the ministry in Scriptural light. He is not the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4), but he is an under-shepherd. We cannot substitute for the work of the Spirit. We are to give ourselves primarily to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4). We must decrease and Christ increase (Jn. 3:30).
2. A minister must keep his own spiritual vineyard (Song of Sol 1:6). A diminished emphasis on communion with God will result in diminished spiritual supplies for ministry. Luther wrote in a letter to a friend: "I am now so terribly busy that I can't afford not to spend two to three hours a day in prayer." Our logic typically is the reverse: we are so busy that we cannot afford to be long in prayer. Luther thought the opposite, and so did his Master (Lk. 5:16).
3. A minister must set his priorities in consultation with his consistory. The ministry is to be shared with the elders and the deacons as well as members of the congregation. This will be different depending on the size of the congregation and the experience of the pastor. A consistory should offer to have a reading service a few extra times per year to alleviate the burden of a young minister. It can be helpful to exchange pulpits with neighbouring pastors. We pastors also need to realize that the ministry requires co-operation and brotherly love in the consistory.
4. A minister must distance himself emotionally from crisis situations when he leaves a particularly tense meeting or difficult situation. This sort of self-protection has nothing to do with insensitivity or hardness on our part. When we are with members in crisis, we must be there for them according to scriptural guidelines, but when we leave, we should no longer be completely bound up in the situation, but distance ourselves from it.
5. A minister must take time for study as well as rest. In terms of study, he must work through new and old theological works. This deepens and enriches his insight and enables him to give spiritual guidance in the ministry of the Word to the congregation. The congregation should allow the minister to take study breaks and attend conferences in addition to allotted vacation time. The minister should not short-change his time for personal rest and time with his wife and family. A consistory and con­gregation should not take a dim view of this, but rather encourage it.
6. A minister must recognize his limitations as well as his gifts. We do not all have the same gifts and character. There are pastors who have received enormous energy from the Lord; others have not. We may not compare ourselves with others, but rather everyone must know himself to be accountable to the Lord Who knows our strengths because He has given them to us. He also knows our infirmities and knows that we need rest and relaxation (Mk. 6:31). He knows we need to be given refreshing grace to resume ministerial labours. Sometimes this simply involves days off; sometimes it involves a few days or weeks away.
7. A minister must be resolute in important matters and not entangle himself with unimportant ones. The book of Proverbs emphasizes the right use of our tongues to promote truth and harmony. For instance, in Proverbs 15 the Holy Spirit gives very practical instruction in this regard.

In conclusion, let us continue to be sober, that is biblically sober, redeeming the time (Col. 4:5). Let us, indeed, not be weary in well doing, but neither allow ourselves to become weary in well doing. This involves much wisdom, which ultimately is to be found with the Lord.