When Christians (especially those in active ministry) neglect looking after one's own spiritual growth, they will experience the 'B' effect:
- Breakdown - whenever a storm hits them, they break down, because the problem seems too big to handle. But the real reason is not the size of the problem but the spiritual strength (or the lack of it) of the Christian facing it.
- Blowup - it takes very little for a weak Christian to explode with anger/irritation at people. They blowup and blow others also up. This typically occurs more within the family and then make inroads into other relationships at work, church etc.
- Burnout - stress eats up the weak Christian way too easily and all aspects of life (marriage, family, work, ministry, church etc.) seem like a boring burden most of the time.
If you are experiencing any of the above, it's time to check on your personal spirituality:
- Do you dedicate time every day to spend quietly with God and His Word in solitude? At least an hour comprising 20 minutes of meditation on the Bible and 40 minutes of silent reflection is a must.
- Are you a lone ranger keeping your spirituality to yourself all the time? That's not healthy! Team up with another Christian to pray for each other and check on each other's personal spirituality every week (at least) and make yourselves accountable to each other.
- Are you still learning or are you satisfied with an I've-done-it-all mind-set especially in ministry? An attitude of excellence (Colossians 3:17) requires a constant desire to grow more, do you have it? What are you doing to grow more in your God given ministry? When was the last time you attended training?
Remember there's absolutely nothing more important than saving one's own soul first. No one wins the prize without completing the race (1 Cor 9:24).
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