Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Come, that you might find rest. Labor begins for man, and ceases not until the first death, but he that runs continuously cannot sustain. Follow My lead as you are called. Rest on the seventh day. Six you shall labor and the seventh you shall set aside that your life would be whole. He who does not rest spends what is not his and receives not what he needs. Come close in praise, in thanksgiving of the week received, of the work given of My provision. You need not labor as the slave. Take that of which I give, that you would receive what is needed. Obey, and the blessing of rest will pay far greater than the wage of work. For in it you, and those given also to you, will know its rest and peace. Hear the commandment, and know its provision; it gives far greater than it removes.
Exodus 34:21 (ESV) – Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.
Gen 2:3 (ESV) – So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Lev 23:3 (ESV) – There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.
Mark 2:27 (ESV) – And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Taking It to Work:
Today we address the bad idea of the seven day work week, which many of us have.
Here’s a little history: About three centuries after Jesus walked the earth, Christianity had gotten so strong that the Holy Day to rest and honor to the Lord was changed by Constantine from the Jewish sabbath, Saturday, to Sunday. It was then mae the official Christian holy day soon after, set apart for faith and family, where no one was expected to work. It was not mandatory that you didn’t work, like the Jewish sabbath, but for over sixteen centuries, over 60 generations, Christians worked six days a week, and Sunday was the day of rest and worship.
Now fast forward those sixteen centuries to the early 1900s, and to give similar rights to the Jewish population, Saturday was also given off from work so devout Jews could celebrate their sabbath. Thus, adding this to the Sunday Christian holy day, gave rise to our modern weekend. Sunday is still the primary day that Christians stop their work, rest and honor God, but in the last fifty years this also has changed.
I remember when I was a kid, everything was closed on Sunday, you couldn’t even by a gumball, but no more. Not only are most businesses open, except Chick-fil-A, many Christians now must work on Sundays to man those businesses. So how do we apply our scripture today from Exodus 34 in our culture?
Well, before Constantine, who initiated Sunday as the Christian holy day, and before the Council of Laodicea made it official, God himself gave some guidance – don’t work seven days a week. Work six, and make sure you rest on the seventh.
Biblically, I don’t believe the actual day matters, but one day should be held aside for rest, family and worship. It was a command back in Moses’ day, but in our crazy fast-paced world, its likely even more necessary.
God knew what He was doing when he set the original rules for mankind, and He gave us His commands to help us know how live healthy, happy, and functional lives. So, if you’re a seven-day-a-week workaholic, try it God’s way. Break a day free, and make it holy, dedicated and consecrated to God. Hopefully, you can make that day Sunday, so you can attend church with family, friends and other fellow believers. Remember, this command was number four on God’s top ten-list. Let’s take it as seriously as He does, as His Word works in you, today.
