Living As Creatures Of Dust
Christopher Ash is a Christian author who was formerly a pastor and theological teacher at a college in the UK. He wrote a book in 2016 called Zeal Without Burnout. In it, he speaks about the danger of “burnout.” Burnout is defined below:
“Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress and feel under constant pressure. Whilst burnout can be caused by stress, it isn’t the same as stress. Stress tends to be short-term…[but with] burnout, you feel so detached and demotivated that it impacts your ability to function, and you feel hopeless that your situation can change.” (https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/)
In the face of a very real phenomenon, Christopher Ash offers practical advice on how to guard against overworking ourselves into ill health and, more positively, how to honour God in our living and working.
Even though it is a book primarily intended for pastors and workers in Christian ministry, his wisdom is applicable to all believers as we strive to do all things as unto the Lord (Col 3:17). Personally, I have benefited greatly from his insights and would like to share some here.
Creatures of Dust
Firstly, did you know that we come from dust? Yes, a womb. But also dust.
Right at the beginning of his book, Ash reminds us of what he calls “a neglected truth”–that we are creatures of dust.
Ash reiterates biblical truth, which states that we are embodied creatures:
‘...the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground…’ Genesis 2:7
And, what’s more, God will return us to dust:
‘You turn people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’ Psalm 90:3
In short, we are fragile beings who have been formed, by the grace of God, through the breath of life, from disconnected particles on the ground to living, walking, speaking, thinking agents.
Ash helpfully refocuses our minds to the reality that we are creatures, not the Creator; we are fleeting, not permanent; we are frail, not strong. And God knows this:
‘For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.’ Psalm 103:14
Therefore, as we work, serve, study, and live in this world, we should do so with this “neglected truth” in mind.
We are needy; God is not.
Ash then leads us to consider four “needs” that we have as creatures:
We need sleep, and God does not
We need Sabbath rests, and God does not
We need friends, and God does not
We need inner renewal, and God does not
Let me briefly expound on each one.
We need sleep, and God does not.
Firstly, sleep. Ash points us to Psalm 127, verse 2, which says, ‘In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat–for he grants sleep to those he loves.’ Ash explains that working hard for God is not bad; indeed, we should! But here is a rebuke for sleeplessness, especially the kind that is caused by anxious toil, which demonstrates a lack of trust in God for the work. This is not a sleeplessness that honours God or that God is pleased with. Remember, says Christopher Ash, even the Son of God–Jesus–needed to sleep! (Mark 4:38). To be human is to need sleep. Sleep is given to us by our Father as a way to restore the energy that He knows we need. If we neglect sleep, we are injuring ourselves.
Exam season is ending now. I don’t want to impose guilt, but a particular danger for students is to think, “I can get another hour of study in now before I sleep, and then in 3 hours I’ll wake up to study again.” Did you do that in the last weeks? God’s word tells us that this expresses a lack of trust in Him to help us do what we need to do. Or, at the very least, it demonstrates a poor management of our time and efforts. We are not superhuman. We are agonizingly weak. But God has given us sleep to help us. So let us use it.
We need Sabbath rest, and God does not.
The Bible tells us that God is always working (John 5:17). He sustains the whole universe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! In Genesis 2, God rested from completing the work of his creation. It’s as if he stood back to admire what he’d made. God doesn’t need Sabbath rests in the sense of taking a break. But we do. If we deny ourselves rest, we are implying that we are God.
While we might disagree on how we understand the Sabbath command, I think we can all agree that the rhythm of 6 days work and 1 day rest is a good creation pattern. When we set our minds to work, we need to make sure we work, and work hard! Too many are the days we say we will work that then end up being wasted with doom-scrolling, binge-watching or procrastination. Work as unto the Lord and then rest as unto the Lord. Ash says that taking a weekly day off is the acknowledgement that we are creatures of dust and God is God.
We need friends and God does not
God has no need for friendship. Within himself he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A perfect, sufficient fellowship that requires no addition from the outside. He doesn’t need our friendship. He is not lonely without us. However, says Ash, while God has no need of friendship outside the Trinity, we do.
God has designed us to be social, relational beings. Whether married or unmarried we are meant to be together with others. We are not meant to “do life” without friends. Friendships are a provision of grace, joy, help and accountability from the Lord. Let us nurture and care for the good friendships that God has given us. Let’s be intentional, says Ash, to pursue and persevere in our friendships.
We need inward renewal and God does not
In this section Christopher Ash speaks about how just as we need food and water to maintain our physical bodies, so also we need the inward renewal of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. As someone who has been born again, I am dust in whom the Spirit of Christ lives. Therefore, even if my outward body is crumbling and failing, I experience inward renewal day by day because the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead lives within me (Rom 8:10-11; 2 Cor 4:16).
Inward renewal can look like a variety of things and is specific to the individual. It could be the experience of energising exercise, wholesome chats or reading, enjoyment of beautiful things, or times of quiet. Ash speaks of the creativity God has given each of us as one way that we can be renewed in the Spirit. It might be writing, speaking, making music, or through art. We can be encouraged to explore these creative avenues as instruments for inward renewal. Be aware, says Ash, of what fills you and what drains you. And as much as you’re able, ensure to schedule into your week the things that fill and energise you. Above all, guard your devotional times with the Lord, times of Bible reading and prayer, of gazing on Jesus and praising His name.
Self-diagnostic questions
As we close, here are some questions to consider for your own heart:
What does your pattern of sleep reveal about your trust in God's sovereignty over your studies, life, and future?
Are you genuinely overworked, or are you under-rested because you have not worked diligently when it was time to work?
Are you known by others, or merely surrounded by others? What keeps you from pursuing deeper friendships—busyness, fear, pride, or something else?
What fills your calendar, and what fills your soul—and are they the same thing? What have you scheduled this week that will nourish your love for Christ?
A prayer
Heavenly Father,
I am a creature of dust.
I thank you that you know this.
You call me to work hard for you, to honour Christ in all that I do.
Please help me to do that.
But help me to work hard without needless burnout that actually dishonours you.
Forgive me for the times when I have lived as if I am more than dust.
Forgive me for neglecting the means of grace that you’ve given me for my own good.
Remind me that I am dust, that I am needy and you are not.
Help me to protect my hours of sleep, that I may regain energy.
Help me to trust you with a weekly day off, that I may rest to glorify you.
Help me to invest in good friendships that encourage godliness.
Help me to be mindful of what drains me and what fills me, that I may pursue inward renewal.
Thank you for your love that motivates me.
May I serve you with gladness and restful zeal.
Keep me from anxious toil and selfish ambition.
So help me God.
Amen.
