About 10 years ago, as I was in the process of starting my first company, I was working 7 days a week. During the week, I would work 12-14 hour days, and on Sunday, to respect the Sabbath, I would trim it back to only 3-4 hours.
One weekend, the Holy Spirit convicted me of working on Sundays. I remember going back and forth with the Lord about it, because frankly, Sunday was the time I would catch up on all the loose ends from the previous week and prepare for the coming week – all with no distractions. It became my favorite day of the week to really get things done.
I felt Sundays were vital to keeping my work weeks organized.
Thankfully, I didn’t fight the Holy Spirit long, and I chose not to work one Sunday. Then I did it the next weekend, and then another weekend after that. It was amazing to see that my business not only didn’t fall apart, but it actually thrived. And to top it off, I felt more relaxed.
Rest is a key building block in our faith. Why? When we stop trying to make everything happen in our own strength, we allow God to show us He’s God.
It’s weird that right beside, “Thou shall not murder,” is the commandment to rest at least one day a week. Who would’ve thought taking a day off would be in God’s “Top 10” list?
I quickly saw God’s formula in action:
(6 human days of work + 1 “God” day) > 7 human days of work
I’m in a new business now (SingleRoots), and I still stick to this decision the best I can. As hard as it is at times, I don’t look at the stats of SingleRoots on Sunday. I don’t look at our email sign-ups, number of visitors, or respond to emails.
Now if the server crashes and I have to call the hosting company to restore the site, then you bet I’ll make the call. A wise businessman would call the fire department if his store were burning down on the Sabbath, right? Remember Jesus, the donkey, and the ditch – all done on the Sabbath.
We are free from the Old Testament legalism on this issue, but we are not free from setting aside a day to rest from our work.
Like tithing, less is more in God’s economy.
The best sermon I’ve heard on this topic of the Sabbath is by my pastor, Robert Morris at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. In the sermon “Take the Day Off,” Pastor Robert answers the questions:
- Can a day, other than Sunday, be my Sabbath?
- What if I’m church staff and have responsibilities on Sundays?
- Can I do hobbies on my Sabbath?
- Can I run errands on my Sabbath?
I challenge you to listen to it this week and begin the practice of taking a Sabbath. Begin with Easter Sunday and celebrating the resurrection of our risen Lord, but resolve that the next Sunday and the next and the next will be ones of rest also.
Give yourself permission to take a day off.
Do you have an actual Sabbath you take each week? Have you found yourself working 7 days a week?
Photo credit: angelocesare
