Liberation and the Sabbath

The other day, I sent an email to a client around 9:00 pm. He wrote back right away, even though it was "after hours." 

"After hours." Remember that concept? It used to be that work was contained within certain boundaries. I remember back at the turn of the century if I sent an email "after hours," I was likely to get a response that started with, "What are you doing at work so late?" But now, thanks to smart phones and other devices, our work spills into all sorts of hours and no one seems to notice anymore.

On some level, that's helpful. These tools allow us to be productive at times that serve our personal schedules. But on another level, that means it's hard to turn work off. I find that I carry around my phone and reflexively check it everywhere. With a few quick keystrokes, I can respond to emails and keep the workflow on track. As a small business owner, I need to keep the tasks moving ahead. It's a good day if my inbox is under 100 messages. But as a Christian, I wonder about how it has affected my ability to turn off, rest, and worship. I also wonder how, through these tools and habits, I affect the ability of others to rest and worship.

Ironically, it was through the Entrepreneurship Initiative (Ei) Forum in New York City that I received a recording from Tim Keller that helped me think through some of these issues. Appropriately titled "Work and Rest," this 2003 message was given before work became omnipresent. I highly recommend that you listen to it. Some of Tim Keller's key points in this message are listed below:

• Examining Luke 6:1-11, we see that Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath, but affirmed it by saying He was Lord of the Sabbath. Which means that Jesus is Lord of rest.
• How can you rest? You rest when you think your work is good and complete. This is modeled for us in Genesis 1, when God creates the world, says it is good, and He who needs it not, rests.
• Why is it hard for us to rest? Because we are always seeking affirmation and identity in our productivity and accomplishments. But the incredible concept of Christianity is that the only One to whom you have to prove yourself has already completed what you cannot do. Jesus is the only One who can truly say, "It is finished." Therefore, it is through the finished work of Jesus that we can rest.
• The Sabbath is an act of liberation. "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." (Dt. 5:15 NIV). If you don't rest, you are a slave -- a slave to your job, to the expectations of others, to your own reputation, whatever. 
• Rest is an act of trust. It says, "I'm not the One who keeps the world running. I am not God."

There's much to mine out of this message. But if there's one concept that really leapt out at me, it was the idea that the Sabbath is an act of liberation. By not taking Sabbath rest seriously, I am keeping myself enslaved when I have already been set free by Christ. And by not taking Sabbath rest seriously at this point of my life, I am also buying into the American concept that rest comes with retirement ... and not before then. But I do not need to be enslaved until some arbitrary age! I have been liberated by Christ Himself. 

Here in midweek, I urge you to listen to this message and plan ahead for ways you can get off the treadmill of emails, housework, scheduled activities, and the like ... and enjoy Sabbath rest. Listen to Tim Keller, glean from the biblical wisdom he presents, and live like people liberated by the King!

(Photo: To me, contemplative rest always needs to include a water view...)

Comments

[Natasha]

Hi Caroline, I am a great believer in the Sabbath rest. I started to practice it halfway through medical school when I was exhausted and not coping. I first kept coming up with lots of scriptures about Sabbath rest and was also encouraged by the examples of a few others. I started to keep a Sabbath rest which became a refuge and enabled me to break my worklife into manageable 6 day chunks. The fact that I did not allow myself to study or work on a Sunday also freed me from the "I really should be studying right now" trap which can disturb you even if you are resting. Except for being on duty at the hospital, which is unavoidable on some Sundays, I have kept the Sabbath for the last 17 years, even during major exams and deadlines. It has helped me to stay sane and to keep going where I would otherwise have burnt out a long time ago. Praise God for his kind provision of the blessing of the Sabbath rest.

[Peanut]

That is an excellent take on the meaning of Sabbath that I had never looked at. Thanks so much for the meaty food for thought. I will for sure be taking this to my quiet time. I think it is one of the most important messages Christian face at the present age. Having recently been forced down due to health issues and a surgery, I have realized how little I rest and why spending quality time with the Lord was such a stress point for me. Thanks for your post.

[Christy Tennant]

What a wonderful reminder - one I need constantly. I find it quite a battle to live in a healthy and holy rhythm of work and rest, and this unhealthy rhythm often leaves me agitated, impatient, and frustrated. Not to mention frustratING for those around me! Over the past few years, I have had "every intention" of making some huge changes to my work and rest rhythms, but have not followed through. Perhaps this reminder will be the final straw? I pray so... now, off to listen to Tim Keller's talk. Thank you for how you always encourage me upward, Carolyn. You are a gift!

[Tawn O'Connor]

I remember an energetic friend who became ill for a time. When she asked the Lord why He was allowing this sickness, he answered, "These are all the Sabbaths you didn't keep." (A word about tone: when she told the story, this did not come across as punitive, but rather as a word of faith that led her to a better balance of work and rest.)

[Kendra]

Sabbath rest has kept me sane for many years! I chuckle at Hebrews 4:10, which talks about working so that we can enter into rest, because it does take discipline to carve out time to rest. I love the picture that Sabbath is of our relationship to Jesus--there are so many great analogies that make sense because of that picture. You've summed its value up well. Thanks.

[Peanut]

One more thing...my Pastor, Thabiti, posted this link on his blog just days before this post. As I told him, I think the Lord is laying it on all of our hearts to be wise and put Him first!
http://www.joethorn.net/2011/05/16/rebuilding-a-healthy-schedule/

[Daniela]

Thank you for this post Carolyn; these are very important thougths. I'm only wondering why so many Christians are keeping Sunday instead of Sabbath...

[Jeannette Paulson]

Thanks, Carolyn, for cutting deep with this post. The subject is close to my heart and I am thrilled to see it discussed more broadly in the evangelical community. I discussed it shortly on my own blog and gave the link.