When you love what you do for a living—when work doesn’t feel like work because of your passion for it—you’re at more risk than most of falling into the workaholic treadmill. Pastors, missionaries, and all sorts of ministry leaders (business leaders) are susceptible to workaholism’s web. Workaholic behavior puts leaders, their families, and their ministries at serious risk. Today’s episode unpacks three hidden dangers of workaholic addiction, and what you can do to protect yourself from them.

Workaholism can lead to stupidity

We tend to do incredibly stupid things when we get tired. Things we would never do if we were well-rested. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The more growth that takes place in your ministry, the more pace becomes an issue. And the more tempted you’ll be to rationalize an out-of-control schedule.

Workaholism can lead to arrogance

God gave us the principle of Sabbath rest as a gift—a weekly reset button—a day to downshift, relax, and rest. Pushing this weekly reset button reminds us our life’s work is ultimately God’s, not ours. It keeps us humble. The distance between workaholism and arrogance is short.

Workaholism can lead to a premature exit

Rest at proper intervals extends our shelf-life and actually increases our productivity. Reams of research prove this over and over again. God can get more done through us over a longer period of time when we commit to a healthy work/rest rhythm. When we obey God’s commandment to observe Sabbath, when we walk in a healthy work/rest rhythm, we discover capacity we didn’t know existed.