Living as a Slave Not a Son: One Man's Story of Workaholism is a candid, deeply personal account written for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone in spiritual leadership who finds themselves exhausted, anxious, or teetering on the edge of burnout. Drawing from his own journey through relentless work, near-breakdown, and eventual renewal, Ryan M Marks offers a transparent look at the hidden costs of overwork and misplaced identity in ministry.
Through vivid storytelling and biblical reflection, Marks exposes the dangers of living as a "slave" to ministry-driven by duty, achievement, and the fear of letting others down-rather than as a beloved child of God. He shares how years of striving, people-pleasing, and neglecting relationships led to emptiness and spiritual fatigue, even as outward success and productivity mounted. The book doesn't shy away from the hard truths: insecurity that fuels overwork, the temptation to find worth in busyness, and the subtle ways leaders can lose sight of grace.
But this is not just a story of struggle. Marks invites readers into his process of healing-through sabbatical, honest counseling, and rediscovering prayer as a lifeline. He unpacks the biblical call to rest in Christ, to work from a place of acceptance rather than for it, and to embrace transparency as the gateway to true freedom. Scriptural insights and practical lessons are woven throughout, offering hope that God's strength is made perfect in weakness, and that leaders are called to be sons, not slaves.
If you are a pastor or leader, a man, weary from the grind, longing for rest, or questioning your worth apart from your work, this book is for you. It's an invitation to lay down heavy burdens, to confess and surrender, and to rediscover the joy of serving from a place of belovedness. Let Marks' journey encourage you: you are not alone, and there is a better way-one marked by grace, rest, and the freedom of living as a child of God.
