Sabbath: more than a day off, a way of life

I was leading my youth group through the biblical account of Mary and Martha recently. To summarise, the sisters are hosting Jesus and his disciples. And whilst Martha is exhausted, running around like a headless chicken, preparing a big dinner for them all, Mary is sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to his teaching. Jesus says that “Mary has chosen what is better.” So, it’s evident that we’re supposed to follow her example. So why did I feel a kinship towards Martha?

When I got home, I thought about another example of two siblings with contrasting journeys – the prodigal son and his older brother. I resonated more with the older brother – the one who feels like he’s been slaving for his father without any reward and struggles with the concept of his father’s mercy. As a Christian, saved by grace, why were the burnt-out, works-based siblings more relatable to me? I then felt led to explore Sabbath rest.

READ MORE: It’s important to take a Sabbath and I don’t think we should live without it

The Bible’s first mention of rest reveals that Sabbath is not solely about physical rest.

The Bible’s first mention of rest reveals that Sabbath is not solely about physical rest. It cannot be, since God didn’t rest because He was tired. God rested because he had “finished his work of creation…”. So, the cause for our pause is not merely a weekly exercise in church attendance, nor is it simply the day we don’t work. Sabbath is ultimately about resting in God’s finished work.

But in a hustle culture, where slogans like ‘no days off’ are celebrated, even believers can fall into the trap of toiling.

But in a hustle culture, where slogans like ‘no days off’ are celebrated, even believers can fall into the trap of toiling. Isn’t it ironic, that on the same day we celebrate Sabbath rest, church volunteers are experiencing burn out? Like Martha, we want to serve with excellence, but big church productions often leave no time for those serving to sit at the Lord’s feet. And this is probably a sign that we are doing more work than the Lord requires of us. Irrespective of our lack of emotional, physical, or spiritual capacity, ‘the show must go on!’ And the results can be incredibly harmful. I began to equate saying ‘yes’ to church commitments, to saying ‘yes’ to God, and the two are not always the same thing. Eventually, I realised that ‘no’ was not a dirty word, especially if my ‘yes’ made me feel more like a slave than a daughter.

READ MORE: Letter from the Editor: ‘God gave us the command to take a Sabbath rest’

So, is Sabbath a condemnation of all work? No. God’s version of rest isn’t primarily about ‘not doing anything’ but about remembering that it is God who sustains everything. From our salvation down to our finances and everything else in between – it is the LORD who provides. Here is how God explained the Sabbath: in the wilderness, He provided bread from heaven for the Israelites to eat. They were to gather bread over six days but to rest on the seventh. “…the Sabbath is the LORD’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days…”

Notice that: Sabbath is not something that they had to earn, it is a gift and God’s heavenly bread (a foreshadow of Jesus) was more than enough to cover the day they did not work.

The Sabbath is a beautiful reminder that Jesus is our resting place. Whenever we feel exhausted physically, emotionally, or spiritually, it is time to Sabbath, and we don’t have to wait until Sunday. Whenever we feel like we’re not doing enough for God, may we remember that “It is finished.” Whenever we fill empty, or in any need, may we run to God for our daily bread. Sabbath is more than just a day off – it is lifestyle, meant to permeate every aspect of our daily lives. Because In Christ, every day is Sunday.