I know only two kinds of people: those who tend to struggle with overwork, and those who struggle with laziness.
For those who struggle with laziness, Scripture speaks clearly: get to work. God has given us the privilege of serving him here, and we must make the best use of our time. Proverbs repeatedly warns against idleness. It tells us to learn from ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) and highlights the benefits of hard work (Proverbs 12:24). The New Testament repeatedly warns that time is short, and the days are evil (John 9:4; Ephesians 5:15-16). “My young sister, my young brother, your day may be very brief,” said Charles Spurgeon. “Work while you have it.”
But some of us don’t need more encouragement to work hard. Our problem isn’t the laziness of overwork; it’s the laziness of excessive busyness.
I’ve seen it in the eyes of many around me. Our culture tells us to fill every moment to the brim. I’ve even seen it in the eyes of pastors, who have nothing left to give. Perhaps I recognize the look because I’ve seen it in the mirror too.
But we’re not always busy for the right reasons. “I am busy because I am vain,” wrote Eugene Peterson. “I want to appear important. Significant. What better way than to be busy? The incredible hours, the crowded schedule, and heavy demands on my time are proof to myself — and to all who will notice — that I am important.”
This busyness comes at a cost, says Peterson. “How can I lead people into the quiet place beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion? How can I convincingly persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to constantly juggle my schedule to make everything fit into place?”
Some of us don’t need to learn how to work harder. Some of us need to learn how to slow down, narrow our focus, and get some rest.
I find it interesting that, when God gave Israel his law, he focused their attention on some key commands he wanted them to follow. We call these the Ten Commandments today. One of them — the longest — has to do with rest. One of God’s top priorities for his people is that they stopped working once a week and made time for other things. We’ve spent so much debating the issues around Sabbath, including its applicability to today, that we may have lost the point: God designed us to live our lives in patterns of work and rest so that we can both serve and enjoy him.
“Sometimes the godliest thing you can do in the universe is get a good night’s sleep,” writes theologian D.A. Carson.
I’m writing this column for a particular kind of person. It may be you. If you’ve just been through a pressure-filled season, and you’re tired, one of the best things you can do this summer is rest. Step away from the crushing responsibilities. Turn off your phone and email. Find a hammock. Sit in the sun. Sleep in. Rest. It will probably be hard for you at first, and you may feel guilty, but do it anyway.
Yes, the Bible commands us to work, but it also commands us to rest. Perhaps one of the most strategic thing we could do this summer is to get the rest we need so we’re ready to serve him again sustainably. So take a break, put away the guilt, and get some rest.