8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work … Exodus 20:8-9
Today, we have chosen to worship God on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the same day the Lord Jesus was resurrected. We remember the Lord who has given us all blessings. It’s not only to rest our bodies, but also to help us remember who gave us this body so we can work.
It’s completely true, the Sabbath rest infers that God wants us to work! Some take this to the extreme (Christians and non-Christians alike) and work 81 hours, 7 days a week, to accumulate as much money as they can in this life. They forgot the Lord’s blessings that have allowed them to be able to work and have the strength to make their money. It is doubtful anyone would ever read on someone’s tombstone “I wish I could work one more day.”
Still, others swing the pendulum in the opposite direction and work not at all; this is not referring to those who are now retired, but rather those who are simply lazy. We are expected to work; Paul has told us that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Just as God gave Adam and Eve a job to do in the Garden of Eden, so He has given us tasks not for ourselves, but to help others.
There are legitimately other people who have needs they cannot meet for themselves; we have been called to work six days so we may “give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). Then, our rest is truly glorious and restorative because we thank Him for the blessing He has made us for other people who need it.
If you haven’t had a chance, listen to this week’s sermon on the Sabbath!
Today, we have chosen to worship God on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the same day the Lord Jesus was resurrected. We remember the Lord who has given us all blessings. It’s not only to rest our bodies, but also to help us remember who gave us this body so we can work.
It’s completely true, the Sabbath rest infers that God wants us to work! Some take this to the extreme (Christians and non-Christians alike) and work 81 hours, 7 days a week, to accumulate as much money as they can in this life. They forgot the Lord’s blessings that have allowed them to be able to work and have the strength to make their money. It is doubtful anyone would ever read on someone’s tombstone “I wish I could work one more day.”
Still, others swing the pendulum in the opposite direction and work not at all; this is not referring to those who are now retired, but rather those who are simply lazy. We are expected to work; Paul has told us that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Just as God gave Adam and Eve a job to do in the Garden of Eden, so He has given us tasks not for ourselves, but to help others.
There are legitimately other people who have needs they cannot meet for themselves; we have been called to work six days so we may “give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). Then, our rest is truly glorious and restorative because we thank Him for the blessing He has made us for other people who need it.
If you haven’t had a chance, listen to this week’s sermon on the Sabbath!