It’s About Time
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Reflection
Have you ever felt like you had too much to do and too little time in which to do it? Life rushes by so quickly! This is an age of high-speed transportation, instant communication, and high expectations. The intensity of this lifestyle often results in stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. But what choice do you have? You’ve got a job to do, appointments to keep, errands to run, and other people who are counting on you. While most of us could use a break, it is hard to find the time.
Today’s reading has to do precisely with this kind of situation. Even though life moved at a much slower pace in the days of ancient Israel, God recognized the people’s need for rest. God tells us to “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” And this isn’t just a bit of incidental guidance. It is on the list of the top-ten things God wants us to do (the Ten Commandments). Obviously, this is an important issue to God.
What does it mean to observe the Sabbath? If you read through the Biblical references to the Sabbath, two main themes emerge. First of all, the Sabbath is to be a period of time you set aside to honor God. This doesn’t mean simply attending a church service. It means recognizing your personal dependence on God. One way this has traditionally been accomplished has been through the second aspect of Sabbath: taking a break from work. God establishes the Sabbath because we need to rest–as do the others around us. In ancient Israel, everybody was commanded to stop work on the Sabbath. It is to be a time of relaxation and refreshment. As we allow our minds and bodies a chance to regroup after a week of frantic activity, we also find ourselves realizing that the world does not revolve around us. We find that we can take a day off without everything falling apart. We learn that it’s okay to be still and trust God to care for us. By observing the Sabbath, we honor God through our faithful rest. For those who feel constantly driven by pressure to achieve, this should come as especially good news. One thing God wants you to do is relax!
Of course, the challenge is in finding a way to observe the Sabbath so that it really is a restful blessing, not a frustrating restriction. Our world does not operate according to ancient timetables. The Israelites celebrated the Sabbath on Saturdays. Christians have observed Sunday as the day of rest. In our time, it is difficult to do either. Society does not recognize Sabbath as a value; and so we might find ourselves having to work on the weekend, running errands we haven’t had time for earlier in the week, or bringing our children to activities that are scheduled without regard to our need for rest. Thankfully, the Bible does give us some flexibility with regard to Sabbath. The Apostle Paul allows that different people may dedicate their time to God in different ways (Romans 14:5). The important thing is that we make time both to rest and to acknowledge God as the giver of true rest. In doesn’t matter if you choose a whole day, a portion of each day, or some other scheduling option. Just be sure that you really find it restful and worshipful.
Activity
Take a look at your calendar of activities. When do you make time to relax? Are you getting the rest you need? How does God figure into your weekly schedule? Consider ways you might carve out Sabbath time for yourself and your family. It may be that, in order to take care of yourself, some of your priorities may need to change. Remember, God wants us to observe the Sabbath for our well-being. Be good to yourself and make time for some holy rest!
Prayer
God of Creation, You are the giver of every good gift: My possessions, my abilities, and my life itself come from You and will return to You. Forgive me when I fail to be grateful or refuse to share. Open my eyes to Your amazing generosity, and return me to the path of faithful stewardship. Help me to manage my time faithfully and to schedule a regular time of Sabbath rest. Thank You for caring about us so much that You made rest a sacred activity; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Key Thought: God calls us to be faithful stewards of our time by making time for rest and worship.
