Currently we’re in a message series called “Building Strong Families.” Although each family is unique, God has principles that apply to every family. When we build our lives and families on God’s principles, our families grow stronger.
Today’s society seems to get faster paced every year. Life is getting more complex. Work is getting more stressful for more people. Companies that have laid off people, expect the workers they have left to do just as much work as before the layoffs. I read a recent article that said that more than a third of adults don’t get the minimum required sleep of 7 hours a night. People are working so hard, they hardly can find time to sleep.
Today, the title of my message is “Learning to Rest.” We’re going to talk about what God’s Word has to say about work and rest. How is the balance in your life between work and rest? Do you ever get tired just thinking about what you have to do? Are you chronically fatigued or stressed out? Do you often feel down and not have much joy in your life? Do you ever feel guilty when you relax or rest?
If so, then today’s message will help you. You may be a workaholic and not really realize it. People who work 7 days a week, injure themselves, their families and their own productivity. God’s Word has something to say about learning to rest, it’s in the 4th commandment.
Whenever you break one of God’s commandments, you hurt yourself and of course that hurts God. God gave us the commandments, including the 4th commandment for our benefit.
Exodus 20:8-10 (NIV) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work.
The 4th commandment has two parts. First of all it tells us to keep the 7th day holy. Secondly, it tells us to work on the other 6 days, but not on the 7th day, the Sabbath.
Listen to or watch my March 6, 2011 message Learning To Rest.