Work and rest are two important themes of
life. A major portion of our lives are
split between these two things. The
stereotypical work day is eight hours.
Doctors tell us that we should get eight hours of sleep each night. The other eight hours of the day is usually a
mix of work and rest (and hopefully a little play).
Exodus 31 focuses in on work and rest.
God had some important work that needs to be
done. He had given the design of the
Tabernacle to Moses. Now, who would
construct it? God Himself answered that
question. Bezalel, Oholiab, and able men
were appointed for this task.
It is interesting to look at God’s
description of Bezalel. He said, “I have
filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with
knowledge and craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver,
and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in
every craft.” God had equipped and
prepared Bezalel for this work, and that is also true of the others selected
for this task.
Work is a gift from God where we get to use
the gifts and blessings He has given us.
He filled us with His Spirit when we were baptized. Our ability, intelligence, knowledge,
craftsmanship, and all our abilities come from Him. He has provided us with opportunity to hone
those gifts and skills, but at the root of the matter is this truth: God designed and created each of us; talents
and all. That in and of itself is
wonderful, but the Lord has gone beyond creating us. He has also redeemed us through Jesus’ blood
shed on the cross. He has redeemed our
talents to use them for His glory, and He has given us His Spirit to sanctify
(that is “make holy) every part of our lives – even our work.
People often complain about work and see it
as a necessary evil, but it is not evil.
Work is good. It is an
opportunity to use our strength and intellect as a display of God’s creating
and redeeming power and love. As you go
about your work, remember God has blessed you to be able to do the things you
do. Those abilities are part of His
loving provision for you, and, as you use them to His glory, you are
worshipping Him.
Not that we should only focus on work. God has also blessed us with rest. God set aside the Sabbath Day as a day of
rest for His people. It was a day to
cease from work, and enjoy God’s Word and presence. It was a day to get one’s bearings so that the
next week’s work was done with the right heart.
As Christians, we
see the Sabbath as fulfilled in Christ’s rest in the tomb. He rested from His saving work, His death on
the cross, over the Sabbath Day (Saturday), and rose early on Sunday, the day
we gather to worship. Indeed, Jesus is
our Sabbath rest. As St. Paul says, “Therefore
let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard
to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but
the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col 2:16-17 ESV)
We work and we
rest. Both are from the Lord, and both
are good by His grace. So in all we do
we live as redeemed children of God, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and
if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we
are the Lord's.” (Rom 14:8 ESV)
Father, thank you for work and for rest, and thank you
for making me Yours in Christ.
Amen.
Comments