Rest & Work

As I look forward to sharing the hope I have in Jesus Christ, I am keenly aware of the fact that I am preparing for an unseen battle. During combat training, I want to learn how to defuse battles that I have now, which will only be increased when away from my place of birth. Since college, I have struggled with understanding the relationship of rest and work, often feeling like I was not get enough of either accomplished. The danger of me pursuing more rest is that I will self consume & grow lazy; the danger of me pursuing more work is that I will treasure my accomplishments over the work that Christ has already victored. I have a hard time understanding if and how balance is a theme of the Bible. What is clear; however, rest and work are part of the life that trusts and loves Christ.

As to work, Ecclesiastes makes it clear that we are not just to work, but work with everything in us. Whatever your hands find to do, do it will all your might." Ecclesiates 9:10 The author of Proverbs, furthermore, chastises and mocks the sluggard, repeatedly. Among those verses are: "Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him." (Prov10:26). "As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed." (Prov26:14)God, also commanded Israel to work. Just as God instructed them to rest on the Sabbath because it is holy, so God also instructed them to work 6 days. They had a clear cut time for when to rest and when to work.

But what are we to do now that Christ has fulfilled the work of the law? We can no longer attempt to justify ourselves by following these rules, for we should not be ignorant of the fact that Christ was the only One who was Himself the perfect demonstration of the requirements of God and by Him alone do we have hope. Are we then to just sit back? Are we to just wait for God to convert the heathen without the church's involvement? Are we to just watch the tube all day because God has already done it all? By no means!

Though God is completely sufficient for Himself and for the glue of the whole universe and everything is held together in Him, and not even our doubts about Him are outside of His power & provision, yet the God of the universe, in His love to us, calls us to participate in His masterpiece! How dire would it be to reject such love!

The Apostle Paul was a worker. He worked like crazy to bring the gospel all over the world. He refers to the people who are alongside him as fellow laborers. Paul instructs the believers in Thessalonica to not allow anyone to eat with them if they are not willing to work and instructed the church in Colossa to work hearitly as unto the Lord and not unto men. So what was Jesus talking about when He said all that stuff about giving us rest?

Rest is so important to God. He became angry when people did not acknowledget the Sabbath. Ezekial prophecies judgement against those who did not acknowledge the Sabbath:

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them (Eze20:12)

In the same statement, He makes clear not only His judgement against those who do not keep it, but why it was important to rest on the Sabbath, as a sign that God sanctifies us. They miss out on sanctification by refusing commissioned rest.

So which is it? Should we rest more or work more?

The book of Hebrews has much to say about faith and rest. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Heb4:9,10) Since Christ has completed the requirements of God that I could never do, I have now entered the eternal Sabbath! I am secure and without anxiety when this truth is near. I am always resting when I believe this!

Also, the mystery of Christ work is being manifest in my body when I have faith like this. For Christ is working through me. It is not my work, but His work in me that God may get the glory. Thus Paul says:

"For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." Colossians 3:23

And Peter

"Serve with the strength that God gives that He may get the glory." (cv1Pet4:11)

So alas! I make it my aim to rest all the time in Christ's sufficieny and to work all the time with the power He gives me!