In Acts 20:27-28 the Apostle Paul establishes priorities in ministry, which are to ensure that the whole will of God is proclaimed and ministers are innocent of the blood of all men (Acts 20:27):
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
What struck me was that Paul mentions blood twice. The blood of all men (v27) and the blood of Christ (v28). The latter was spilled in love and mercy to spare the former from the righteous and terrible justice of God. To keep watch over oneself could mean “don’t burn out, keep going in ministry.” In context, however, the fuller meaning is “don’t stop proclaiming the full will of God, that Jesus shed his blood to save you shedding yours.” Burnout is more than simply feeling tired or exhausted. Burnout in Christian ministry is giving up on the gospel of the glorious substitutionary atonement of Christ.
Good post Neil.