Rhythms of Work and Rest
He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. —Mark 6:31
So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things… —Mark 6:32-34
After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray. —Mark 6:46
On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation. —Genesis 2:2–3
1 . Receive Work
The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. —Genesis 2:15
The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust. —Genesis 3:17–19
There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him? —Ecclesiastes 2:24–25
Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food—yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves. —Psalm 127:1–2
2 . Reject
The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—a lion in the public square!” A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth! —Proverbs 26:13
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense. —Proverbs 12:11
The one who is lazy in his work is brother to a vandal. —Proverbs 18:9
It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. —Lamentations 3:27
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. —Colossians 3:17
In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. —2 Thessalonians 3:10–12
But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. —1 Timothy 5:8
In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. —Acts 20:35
3 . Remember To
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. —Exodus 20:8–11
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. —Deuteronomy 5:15
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. —Mark 2:27–28
On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. —Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. —1 Corinthians 16:2
I was in the Spirit, on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet —Revelation 1:10
Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. —Colossians 2:16
One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. —Romans 14:5–6
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28–30
To seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. —1 Thessalonians 4:11–12