Danger from Overwork
When the apostles returned from their first missionary journey, the
Saviour’s command to them was, “Come ye yourselves apart into a
desert place, and rest awhile.” [
Mark 6:31
.] They had been putting
their whole souls into labor for the people, and this was exhausting
their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest.
Christ’s words of compassion are spoken to His workers today just
as surely as to His disciples. “Come ye yourselves apart, ...and rest
awhile,” He says to those who are worn and weary. It is not wise to be
always under the strain of work and excitement, even in ministering
to men’s spiritual needs; for in this way personal piety is neglected,
and the powers of mind and soul and body are overtaxed. Self-denial
is required of the servants of Christ, and sacrifices must be made; but
God would have all study the laws of health, and use reason when
working for Him, that the life which He has given may be preserved.
Though Jesus could work miracles, and had empowered His disci-
ples to work miracles, He directed His worn servants to go apart into
the country and rest. When He said that the harvest was great and the
laborers were few, He did not urge upon His disciples the necessity of
ceaseless toil, but said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” [
Matthew 9:38
.] God
has appointed to every man his work, according to his ability; and He
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would not have a few weighted with responsibilities, while others have
no burden, no travail of soul.
The servants of Christ are not to treat their health indifferently. Let
no one labor to the point of exhaustion, thereby disqualifying himself
for future effort. Do not try to crowd into one day the work of two.
At the end, those who work carefully and wisely will be found to
have accomplished as much as those who so expend their physical and
mental strength that they have no deposit from which to draw in time
of need.
God’s work is world-wide; it calls for every jot and tittle of the
ability and power that we have. There is danger that His workers will
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