Influence comes from Overflow

Many times, in the mission’s world that I live in, I hear people talking about sacrifice and service and giving as the model that they use to live and work among the Cambodian people. The unspoken message is that “I’m spiritual because I’m exhausted and have given everything I have.” A saying from my childhood that I heard often was “it’s better to burnout that to rust out” implying that to give and work and sacrifice until there is nothing left is the highest form of service.

Well, as someone who worked from that flawed model for many years, I want to offer my humble opinion about a better model… overflow.

One phrase that was spoken as a challenge to me during a café meeting in 2010 with Chiz, an Australian man, has impacted how I see my mission’s contribution here in Cambodia. After listening to me for a bit, he wagged his finger aggressively in front of my face and said, “50-70 are your most impactful years – don’t waste them!”

It came at a time when the physical input that I was able to have here was declining. The Recovery Shelter was set up, the staff were doing a great job and my input wasn’t needed as much anymore. I thought that maybe it was time to return to New Zealand.

Jesus modelled the overflow model so powerfully that, as a kid raised on Bible stories, I wondered why I hadn’t seen it before. Jesus had all the power and energy to fix every problem, right every wrong, and never burnout – but he chose to work from overflow and not drain his physical, emotional, spiritual and social tank as a sign of his love for us. He removed himself often and spent time with his Father so that he could come back to his disciples and the demands of his mission’s life, and work from overflow - not from an empty tank. 

The massive bonus from this model is that the influence we have is multiplied when we work from overflow. When I have a heart full of gratitude, worship and delight in God my Father, THAT is what influences the people around me.

Exhaustion does not influence people

Influence comes from Overflow