Why is it so hard to take a sabbath rest? The Bible seems pretty clear, “One day in seven, take a break. Don’t work. Enjoy life. Enjoy God.” When I worked for the government in Northern Canada everything screeched to a halt for the day off.
We had to keep the highway open during about six months of blizzards through a stretch of tundra that crossed the Arctic Circle. We rotated days off. Mine was Thursday. Much as loved running all the heavy equipment, and the good pay check, I looked forward to Thursdays all week. Now it seems like life is racing by. There is so much to do, and so few workers. It takes a lot of faith to know we can take a day off and God will pick up the slack.
I don’t see God as having a big stick, looking who he can punish. I see Him as a good boss, wanting to make certain his workers do not burn out. He wants us to enjoy life now, not just after we die. God wants this so much that He made this one of the ten commandments. It is right there beside Love God, and Don’t Worship Idols.
I knew a man who loved and served God all his life. He understood that we now live in an era of sabbath rest, so every day is the same. We can work every day. So he did, and he was a very, very hard worker. But he remained poor and was often frustrated.
“Six days are set aside for work, but on the Sabbath day you must rest, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.” Exodus 34:21 NLT
Amen!
Amen!