Give It a Rest

The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord.’”

– Leviticus 25:1-2

You’ve likely seen them online, in bookstores, and in college dorms. And you might even have a few at home. They’re those yellow For Dummies books that help you do everything from gardening to database management to gourmet cooking. There’s even one on Christianity.

Thirty years after their debut, For Dummies books remain popular because so many readers don’t have the time or patience to learn and appreciate why things are the way they are. Instead, they want to know (quickly) how it's done without the annoying details.

That’s not always a bad thing — particularly when there's a last-minute project at the office and you don’t have a clue where to start. So, let’s give them their due. The For Dummies books and their imitators can often save readers hours of time … and perhaps a few sleepless nights.

But there’s a downside when we overemphasize shortcuts and quick fixes. In 21st century America, our hectic lives can consist of random snapshots and scattered sound bites rather than full-length, high-def documentaries. We literally don’t stop to smell the roses, which happen to be some of God’s most beautiful creations. And the result is that we miss out on life.

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our never-ending schedules to recharge our batteries and forget about the everyday grind? The Bible tells us that our Creator agrees. And that’s why he created the Sabbath. It’s one special day each week (not necessarily Sunday) when we can worship, relax with family and friends, do good for others, and enjoy a set-apart life shaped by our devotion to his purposes.

That’s one valid way to look at the Sabbath. But it has a much deeper meaning. This special day also reflects a special person (Jesus), who exemplified everything the Sabbath should be. Although he had only three years to save the world, Jesus still took time out to pray, help others — and even attend a party or two. Never in a hurry, he even called himself the Lord of the Sabbath. And he still had time to complete his must-do to-do list.

Ever wonder how you’ll ever get it all done? Learn from Jesus’ example and give it a rest.