Resting sounds great, but . . .

. . . .  but isn't work important?

Work.

Some wag said that it was one of the "four letter words" -- you know, the ones that shouldn't be said. Economists would tell us that working means autonomy and material success. Philosophers would say that work defines who we are and gives meaning to our lives.

When we open our Bibles, we see that work is not only good but necessary. God worked by creating the world in six days - not only that, but He set Adam and Eve to work once He had made them:

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15, NIV)

In both the Old and the New Testaments, we learn about the value of work; we even see that there are consequences when we don't work.

One who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11, NASB)

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either....Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work peacefully and eat their own bread.(II Thessalonians 3:10, 12)

In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)

Opting out of valid work is the equivalent of laziness, or the character trait called "slothfulness." We can't expect to see the fruits of our labor (whether material or spiritual) if we are not willing to work.

But Snoodles! We are studying resting in God! Why all this talk about work? Because many people today have made work a false deity. It's an idol in their lives. In western societies, we don't view work as a means to an end as much as we did - like harvesting crops so that our family can eat - nowadays we associate work with the amount of money we earn, and with how prestigious the title on our office door. And the only way to make more money, or to advance up the ladder of the corporation, is to work more. We all know or have known people who were chasing success and made work their top priority. They made their work their god. And they were not usually happy people. 

Sleep deprivation is a real issue in our world today. Not only have we deluded ourselves about the importance of wealth and titles, we also have convinced ourselves that we must be constantly busy. Constantly "doing." We modern-day Marthas have lost sight of how to be Marys. We neglect the beautiful and the restful when we act this way. We need to listen to the psalmist:

It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:2)

So, in addition to being unhealthy to neglect our rest, it's vain. Hmmmmm, the definition I find for vanity says "excessive pride in one's accomplishments." Maybe this is because when we work so hard for money, title, and possessions, we tend to view our accomplishments as our own -- we forget all about how God has gifted us with what we have! 

We can look at resting, then, as an act of trust. We can let our guard down because we know that God will provide for us. Relaxing means that we don't have to control everything; we are worth more than "many sparrows." (Matthew 6) 

Resting is also rejuvenating to our bodies and souls. We are revived when we make time for solitude. When we use silence to listen to the Lord speaking to us. We can see Him in the beauty around us as we take a leisurely walk, and hear Him in the song of the bird on the limb above our heads. Rest is a balm for our souls - some days we are so harried that we don't even stop long enough to breathe or to eat properly. Rest brings us back and helps us focus on what is most important; it helps center us on our faith in God, caring for our families, and concentrating on our relationship with Him. 

Slow down for a day and see what happens. If you simply cannot take a whole day, set aside a half-day, or a couple of hours. Your soul will be revived and recharged. It's when our hearts are prayerful that we are most attentive and "tuned in" to the God's stirring in our hearts. We'll re-discover who we are and who we are meant to be. When we empty our hearts and minds of the distractions of the day, God can fill our cup to overflowing again. You see, when our hearts are filled with His love, we are better able to give of ourselves without being depleted! 

Our minds will be clearer, too. It's a matter of discipline to make ourselves take time for a nap. To read a book. To attend an hour of prayer or preaching. To take a leisurely walk. To pray in the solitude of the early morning. But the results? We will discover that our minds are less foggy. Less restless. Our thoughts will be clearer. And His peace will settle upon our souls.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)