To ‘strive’ means to struggle, or to work hard. 40:29-31, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Ps. In Mark 4, the disciples have been following Jesus and listening while He taught large crowds about faith and dependence on God using parables. We rest in God’s grace because the work of our salvation has been accomplished at the cross (Ephesians 2:13-16). You would think the Bible has a lot to say about work-life balance. And yet, I still get anxious. We are not what we accomplish. 54:10, “The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.”  Ps. The one who hung each star in place. And you are Jehovah Jireh, the God who meets needs. 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. 2:14, “…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”  Rom. 14:30, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”  Is. (3) For we which have believed.--The emphasis is two-fold, resting both on "believed" and on "we enter." every activity.” He mentioned planting, building, weeping, laughing, dancing, and other activities.Eccl. The word that is used of God resting on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2 is Sabbath, the same word that will be used later calling Israel to cease from their normal activities. God you are Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. 7 Truths You Need to Cling to in a Divided Nation. We start our days in the morning and end our days at night, expending energy throughout the day to collapse when the work is done. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. These periods of rest are intended to be restorative and are also opportunities to intentionally take time to consider Christ and our relationship with Him. The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Merriam-Webster also defines "relaxation" as "the state of being free from tension and anxiety." 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. We must relinquish our attempts at earning an identity through our work and rest in the identity God provides as loved by Him and free to rest in His provision and care. All rights reserved. The problem with the work-life "balance" concept is the image of two competing forces: one always prevails over the other, except for those rare moments when "life" and "work" are in perfect tension. The land also needed to rest (Leviticus 25:4, 8-12). It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. 7 Bible Verses About Balancing Work and Family. “Have you not known? In fact, the Bible doesn't make a dichotomy between work and life because in the ancient world, work, life and family life were often integrated. In fact, the Bible doesn't make a dichotomy between work and life because in the ancient world, work, life and family life were often integrated. Help me to rest in You, Lord. . It’s partnering with God to do what He is calling you to do by His grace, and leaving the part you can’t do in His hands, trusting Him to do it. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. Amen. He will not fail you—even when you’re too tired to function. Resting in the Lord means placing your faith and identity in His provision, physically and eternally (Ephesians 2:8). These Bible verses about rest will tell us what the Bible says about taking care of our bodies through rest. As the news regularly reports, more than half of Americans don’t use their allotted vacation days and are likely to bring work with them when they do take a vacation. The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, were terrified and woke Jesus, saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). We are not our job title. 33:14, “…for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Ps. God established a rhythm to the days of creation that the Jewish people continue to follow which demonstrates a contrast to an American perspective on work. Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources. This desire for autonomy through self-definition forms the basis for the Fall and continues to plague our functioning in relationship to God and others today. In an agrarian society, as was the case in Genesis and through much of human history, evening meant to rest and sleep because it was dark, and you couldn’t work at night. Complete Jewish Bible She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather what falls from the sheaves behind the reapers.' We can’t get it all done, even with 24 hours a day and seven days a week. King Solomon was inspired to write: “There is an appointed time for . Millions of us are working so much that our lives feel off kilter, our bodies tired, our spirits depleted, our souls drained, our relationships strained. Lord, I pray you would calm my anxiousness. When God saw all He had created, His heart gained comfort, satisfaction and happiness, and He stopped all His work and entered into rest. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Heb 3:19-20). Father, help me to keep my mind on you and how big you are when my circumstances start to weigh me down, You are God Almighty. Psalm 90:17. This signifies that God’s work of creation came to a successful conclusion. and it is patterned after God Himself (Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:3-4; Revelation 15:3 29:11, “For He Himself is our peace…”  Eph. The word that is used of God resting on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2 is Sabbath, the same word that will be used later calling Israel to cease from their normal activities. The seventh day of creation provides a reminder of a perfect relationship with God, resting in a reflection of His work for us. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Is. He restores my soul. Seth L. Scott, PhD, NCC, LPC-S is an associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina and provides clinical counseling and supervision in the community through his counseling practice, Sunrise Counseling. What does it mean that God worked for six days and then rested on the seventh? He knows He needs to connect to His Father, to pour out His heart to Him, to rest in the comfort of His arms as He grieves the loss of John the Baptist. 20 Things You May Not Know about Martin Luther King, Jr. 10 Encouraging Bible Verses about Not Giving Up, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us … These translations seem wrong. God’s creation order suggests that we start our day in rest, filling our buckets in preparation to pour them out in work the following day. Once again we see Jesus leave the crowd, with work still to be done, to take care of what is important. 4:6-7, 9, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”  Is. God did not rest on the seventh day because the six days of creation wore Him out. How to Rest in the Lord When Your World Is Upside Down. Work is not a result of the Fall and sin but is instead a blessing in that we find purpose and productivity in joining God in His creative work by subduing the earth and exercising dominion over it (Genesis 1:28). Ordering, organizing, naming, and subduing God’s good creation establish man’s role as God’s representative within His creation, ruling the earth. Does God Really Close Doors and Open Windows for Us? Rest is both a regular rhythm to our day and our week as well as a promise with fuller future fulfillment, “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” (Hebrews 4:9-10). The problem with the work-life "balance" concept is the image of two competing forces: one always prevails over the other, except for those rare moments when "life" and "work" are in perfect tension. Support Option Ultrasound! We cannot earn our salvation, but it is through grace that we have been saved, not of ourselves, but as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). In the New Testament, it is also said that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Seth, his wife, Jen, and their two middle school children enjoy outdoor activities, reading together as a family, board games, and meeting people through Jen’s pottery business at galleries and festivals. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. From our agricultural roots to the industrial area and now to modern technology, the day begins at sunrise. A1. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest… Now the rest of God is not a rest from work—it’s a rest in work. Resting in the Lord means stopping our attempts at independence, which are futile anyway, and trusting that God does love us and knows what is best for us. God first set the example, and then offered it as a blessing to man. Hebrews 4:3 says it this way: For we who have believed enter that rest… But it's hard to find passages that speak directly to the issue. Remember the parable about the bad servant who spent too many hours at the office and the good servant who had a flexible work-from-home telecommuting arrangement so he could spend more time with his kids? The one who knows them each by name as it says in Isaiah 40:26. This Bible study examines the meaning and place of rest and work in the Bible, providing a relevant roadmap for our everyday lives. 6:24-26. But take it from someone who’s burnt out, that’s a total farce. What is the implication, then, of practicing your day in reverse? 4:8, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Ps. In choosing to take the fruit, Adam and Eve chose independence over dependence on God and we continue to struggle with this choice every day. Help me remember that your power is unending. In stark contrast to the assertions of Bob Black, the significance and beneficial nature of work is a resounding theme in the Bible. And this is the meaning of the words “he had rested … . Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. And even when things get difficult, Lord, you are bigger than any problem I could possibly have. Psalm 127:2 ESV / 1,586 helpful votes. God Designed Rest From Labor. 'Back To God' Reba McEntire And Lauren Daigle Official Lyric Video, 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the 10 Commandments, How to Know if You've Been Raised on False Teaching, For Such a Time as This - Crosswalk the Devotional - January 14, 10 Online Sins We're All Apparently Okay With. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. This Bible study examines the meaning and place of “rest” and “work” in the Bible, providing a relevant roadmap for our everyday lives. This shift in the understanding of rest as dependence on God and consideration of His provision, love, and care in contrast to our pursuit of independence, identity, and purpose through work has important physical implications, as we have noted, but has ultimate critical spiritual implications as well. Phil. 6 Regarding work, balance is important. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. It sees work and rest as opposite sides of the same coin. Rest demonstrates where we place our trust for provision, identity, purpose, and importance. Bible Verses About Getting Rest and Taking Care of Your Body. The latter looks forward to the remainder of the verse, the purport of which is that the rest exists, and that "entering into the rest" may still be spoken of. Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 1,136 helpful votes. All God’s people and their servants and the animals were to have one day in seven to rest. And yet, you tell me in Luke 18:27 the things that are impossible with men are possible with you. So, what on earth is the meaning of “rest” in the Bible? Help me to meditate on your truths, so I don’t get anxious. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...the God of peace will be with you." But beyond this functional recognition lies the eternal design in which we yearn for the restoration and redemption of our bodies “to be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). In Jesus, we enjoy the deep-seated rest of knowing that our life is fully and completely in God’s care, and that our true identity is found in belonging to Jesus. 8:6, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Workplace Christians who wonder if the Bible’s Sabbath commandments still apply to us today will find this to be a practical, meditative, and helpful guide. The word “rest” first appears in the Book of Genesis 2:1-3: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. After the Fall, our need for this structure is even greater as we seek to find our purpose through our work and in our independence from a relationship with God. When you’re feeling exhausted after an impossibly long day of work, you can find rest in verses that remind us of God’s peace, provision, and love. God invites us into a deliberate pattern of regular rest. Sabbath rest requires our acknowledgment that God is in control and we are not and our observance of Sabbath rest than becomes a reflection and celebration of this provision and not just a cessation of work. Our physical body is a gift from God. . 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. You can hold onto this truth: no matter how crazy things are, God will be with you. Resting in the Lord means depending fully on His provision and plan even while the world swirls around us in constant chaos. He makes me lie down in green pastures. God rested to establish a pattern for us to follow in enjoying the goodness of our created being without the need for being productive. The fallacy of the Law is the idea that through hard work and personal effort I can keep the Law and earn my salvation, but as Paul explains in Romans 3:19-20, it is not possible to keep the Law. 4:6, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Ps. God desires rest for us because it does not come naturally to us. How does Mark 6:30-34 show that Jesus had a balanced view of work and rest?. Father, sometimes I can’t rest because what I face looks impossible. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42, “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Num. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. And some translations tell us to ‘make every effort’. – Hebrews 4:11. So she went and has kept at it from morning until now, except for a little rest in the shelter." The serpent’s temptation to Eve exposed the challenge of dependence with the consideration of whether we rest in God’s wisdom or whether we want to be like God and make the choice of good and evil for ourselves (Genesis 3:5). Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). This theme of the pull between dependence on God and independence from God and the rest He provides is a critical thread of the Gospel throughout Scripture. Genesis 2:2 Context. (Anne Peterson). Our culture basks in busyness, wearing stress and lack of sleep like a badge of honor. God established the pattern of night and day and the rhythm of work and rest before the Fall, creating a structure of life and order in which work provides purpose in practice but meaning through relationship. No? The practice of rest can seem like an intangible luxury in our chaotic world, but our willingness to relinquish control in the structure of the day and rhythm of the week to a loving Creator demonstrates our dependence on God for all things, temporal and eternal. Stimulants like caffeine and sugar provide the means to get moving in the morning while sleeping pills, alcohol, and herbal remedies enable us to forcibly shut down our bodies and minds to get fitful sleep before starting it all over again because, as the motto says, “You can sleep when you are dead.” But is this what God intended when He created man in His image in the Garden? Lord, you are the one who never gets tired. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Article Images Copyright ©. To remember you are sovereign and in control of everything. To have a biblical understanding of work, we also need a biblical understanding of rest. Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He provided the final word on the work for redemption. One day in seven set apart for rest and reflection on the work we have completed requires us to acknowledge our dependence on God for His provision and freedom from finding our identity in our work. Rest (Noun and Verb) [Noun] anapausis "cessation, refreshment, rest" (ana, "up," pauo, "to make to cease"), the constant word in the Sept. for the Sabbath "rest," is used in Matt 11:29; here the contrast seems to be to the burdens imposed by the Pharisees. Jesus didn't tell any parables like that. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:28-29). In fact, you love it when you work out the impossible. 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