In our world today its all too easy to embrace the temptation to work more to earn more. The nature of greed and abundance has pushed the American worker beyond the limits of healthy sleep habits, and rest becomes a luxury too costly to afford. What does God think of this?

We will examine the subject of rest and look specifically at the nature of the Sabbath as God intended. Through a couple of passages we will just scratch the surface to find out how God has provided all that we need for both rest and worship.

Sometimes the most Godly thing we can do is eat a sandwich and take a nap

Exodus 20:8-11

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 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 animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Observations
1. Sabbath is the 7th Day of the week corresponding to Saturday
2. Sabbath was instituted for everyone
3. There is a dual command to “remember” it as holy, and cease from work
Implications
1. Recognizes God’s sovereignty over all creation including our enterprises
2. Provides a established rest for God’s people
3. Connects our humanity with worship

Mark 2:27-28

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

1. Sabbath must be determined as a matter of conscience
2. God is honored by intentionality
3. Everything the Christian does, he/she does to the Lord

Application:
How much of your body belongs to God?
How much of your money belongs to God?
How much of your time belongs to God?

1. When in your week have you intentionally set aside time to break from your pattern of work and honor God through resting?
2. How are you depending on God by ceasing from work and trusting His provision for your needs?
3. Identify the key areas in your week that strain for your time and attention, and begin the process of yielding them over to God.