When I ask pastors about their day off, I’m often greeted with a blank stare followed by uncomfortable mumbling. Some report they haven’t taken a day off in years… and even worse… a few of them are proud of it. Many contributors to pastoral burnout exist. An over-packed calendar is usually a major culprit.

The American pastor has been influenced by American culture in the arena of pace. Lifeway Research conducted a survey in 2013 revealing that 50% of pastors work between 50-70 hours per week. Pastors often struggle to find a consistent day off due to an unsustainable pace coupled with the unpredictable nature of their role.

After completing the work of creation, God rested on the 7th day. He didn’t rest due to exhaustion. He rested to set an example. To model for us humanoids the weekly reset button. For most people, Sunday is the day they downshift, relax, and rest. Not so for pastors. They have to find another day to hit the reset button.

Pushing the reset button weekly provides 3 major benefits:

Perspective

It’s a short leap from workaholism to arrogance. Pushing the reset button reminds us that the ministry is God’s, not ours. It helps us remember we’re not indispensable. It keeps us from becoming full of ourselves. When we regularly blow by His command to rest weekly, it’s easy to start taking credit for our results. The apostle Paul offers a different view: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” One major benefit of weekly Sabbath is the resetting of our perspective. It teaches us to work from our identity, not for our identity

Permanence

37% of pastors are at medium-to-high risk of burnout, according to a comprehensive survey conducted by Barna and released in January 2017. Isn’t it ironic that the same leaders who teach their people to tithe, and rightly declare that God can make 90% of their income go farther than the 100%, struggle with taking a day off each week? In a sense, taking a day off weekly is similar to tithing. Not only can God get more done through us when we hit the reset button each week—it’s an integral part of His plan for our longevity.

Priorities

The weekly reset button gets us back in touch with what really matters. It reminds us that our spouse and children are more important than our ministry. Sure we have to give attention to our calling. We have to work diligently. But it doesn’t mean we give our spouse and children our emotional leftovers. The reset button reacquaints us with life outside of our ministry, which every pastor should experience. If your entire life is wrapped up in ministry you’re a runaway train that eventually will crash. Taking a day off each week teaches us that unless God builds the house, we labor in vain.

If you want to lead better… longer… and enjoy it more… commit to the weekly reset button. Obey the principle of Sabbath rest.

I’m rooting and praying for you!