--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christians have made too much out of work…" description: "\"“Christians have made too much out of work in the same way that Americans have begun engaging in yoga competitions—twisted-up versions of a purer thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg" --- # Christians have made too much out of work in the same way… ![“Christians have made too much out of work in the same way that Americans have begun engaging in yoga competitions—twisted-up versions of a purer thing. Christians want to make a difference. So we do, and we do, and we do, and then we find ourselves exhausted. In” quote by Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg) > ““Christians have made too much out of work in the same way that Americans have begun engaging in yoga competitions—twisted-up versions of a purer thing. Christians want to make a difference. So we do, and we do, and we do, and then we find ourselves exhausted. In”” [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christians overemphasize work, turning it into a competitive, exhausting pursuit, losing its original purpose of service. **In simple terms:** Work becomes a competition, draining energy. Key Takeaway Balance service with rest. Themes work faith exhaustion purpose competition Mood reflective concerned Type advice observational When to use this quote - church leadership - volunteer work - personal health - team projects Key Concepts Christian ethics burnout cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you serve without burning out? - What does meaningful work look like for you? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on work can neglect spiritual depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Christians Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-want-823649/) [Christians Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-work-1631248/) [Difference Exhausted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-exhausted-6028816/) [Thing Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-christians-992646/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [It appears that too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-appears-that-too-many-christians-want-to-enjoy-the-thrill-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Muslims want to force conversion. Christians want to persuade you to voluntarily change your heart to where you would say yes to Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/the-muslims-want-to-force-conversion-christians-want-to-persuade-you/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [Muslims want the whole world to be Muslim. Christians want the whole world to be Christian. Catholics, Protestants, Mormons. They're all the same. Far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fonda/muslims-want-the-whole-world-to-be-muslim-christians-want-the-whole/) [Peter Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fonda/) > [Some Christians want enough of Christ to be identified with him but not enough to be seriously inconvenienced; they genuinely cling to basic Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/some-christians-want-enough-of-christ-to-be-identified-with-him-but/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The danger facing American Jews today is not that Christians want to persecute them but that Christians want to marry them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/the-danger-facing-american-jews-today-is-not-that-christians-want-to/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [A lot of people, especially Christians, want to put you in this box of being a Christian actor, and I don't believe in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/a-lot-of-people-especially-christians-want-to-put-you-in-this-box-of/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [“YAZIDIS AND CHRISTIANS WANT TO BE FREE OF NIGHT MIST AND BEHEADING DRIFT!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/yazidis-and-christians-want-to-be-free-of-night-mist-and-beheading/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [We have so many Christians who want to change the world, but they don't want to change themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/we-have-so-many-christians-who-want-to-change-the-world-but-they-don/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [“Christians work—they work to kill sin and they work to live in the Spirit. They have rest in the gospel, but never rest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/christians-work-they-work-to-kill-sin-and-they-work-to-live-in-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [I do not want to convince Christians to work for the abolition of war, but rather I want us to live recognizing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-do-not-want-to-convince-christians-to-work-for-the-abolition-of-war/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [“So when we say that Christians work from a gospel worldview, it does not mean that they are constantly speaking about Christian teaching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/so-when-we-say-that-christians-work-from-a-gospel-worldview-it-does/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Muslims and Christians can work together to depose dictators and assert the power of the people. We've seen it happen on the Tahrir Square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-volf/muslims-and-christians-can-work-together-to-depose-dictators-and/) [Miroslav Volf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-volf/) > [“Of all men, Christians should work especially hard, giving more than an honest day's work for a day's wage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/of-all-men-christians-should-work-especially-hard-giving-more-than-an/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [One thing Christians do have in common is that they can't help coming across as smug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/one-thing-christians-do-have-in-common-is-that-they-can-t-help-coming/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [The thing I loved about her was that I never felt like she was selling anything. She would talk to God as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-thing-i-loved-about-her-was-that-i-never-felt-like-she-was/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## More by Shauna Niequist > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“We decide where the time goes. There's so much freedom in that, and so much responsibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/we-decide-where-the-time-goes-there-s-so-much-freedom-in-that-and-so/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“When things fall apart, the broken pieces allow all sorts of things to enter, and one of them is the presence of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/when-things-fall-apart-the-broken-pieces-allow-all-sorts-of-things-to/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“The world is alive, blinking and clicking, winking at us slyly, inviting us to get up and dance to the music that’s been playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/the-world-is-alive-blinking-and-clicking-winking-at-us-slyly-inviting/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“I have always, essentially, been waiting. Waiting to become something else, waiting to be that person I always thought I was on the verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-have-always-essentially-been-waiting-waiting-to-become-something/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“I am still surprised on a regular basis at the love I feel for the spirit of God, the deep respect and emotion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-am-still-surprised-on-a-regular-basis-at-the-love-i-feel-for-the/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“...now that I am a mother, I understand what Mother's Day is about: it's about looking through our lives and recognizing the act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/now-that-i-am-a-mother-i-understand-what-mother-s-day-is-about-it-s/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“We have, each one of us, been entrusted with one life, made up of days and hours and minutes. We're spending them according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/we-have-each-one-of-us-been-entrusted-with-one-life-made-up-of-days/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“Years ago, Aaron and I were talking with the pastor of a fast-growing church, and another friend, a more seasoned pastor. The first pastor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/years-ago-aaron-and-i-were-talking-with-the-pastor-of-a-fast-growing/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“I believe deeply that God does his best work in our lives during times of great heartbreak and loss, and I believe that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-believe-deeply-that-god-does-his-best-work-in-our-lives-during/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“one of the chief aspects of mothering is prayer,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/one-of-the-chief-aspects-of-mothering-is-prayer/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“Our friend Ian, an Episcopal priest, taught us something I’d never heard, something that shaped all of us: on a rainy night, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/our-friend-ian-an-episcopal-priest-taught-us-something-i-d-never/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“When you haven’t yet had your heart really broken, the gospel isn’t about death and rebirth. It’s about life and more life. It’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/when-you-haven-t-yet-had-your-heart-really-broken-the-gospel-isn-t/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“Present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice. Present over perfect living is the risky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/present-over-perfect-living-is-real-over-image-connecting-over/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) [Explore all 141 Shauna Niequist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Christians have made too much out of work in the same way that Americans have begun engaging in yoga competitions—twisted-up versions of a purer thing. Christians want to make a difference. So we do, and we do, and we do, and then we find ourselves exhausted. In”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shauna Niequist" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-work-in-the-same-way-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-work-in-the-same-way-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/shauna-niequist-3042_christianity_christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-wor_2403918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christians have made too much out of work in the same way that Americans have begun engaging in yoga…” — Shauna Niequist", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shauna Niequist", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Christians have made too much out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-work-in-the-same-way-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/christians-have-made-too-much-out-of-work-in-the-same-way-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```