The Importance of Rest

I really thank God for people with great wisdom around me.

Parents.

Brothers.

My Maid.

And especially Rachel and Jieyun :).

So this post is a reply to the one on Rachel's Blog entitled "Rest".

As human beings, God created us to to work hard and be fruitful. But, he has also created us to enjoy rest. When I mean rest, it means complete, absolute, don't-do-anything-stressful-kind-of rest.

So some of you may ask, isn't resting equivalent to laziness and being slothful?

Well, lets refer to the bible to see what God says about rest. In Genesis 2V3, it says that:

"...God blessed the Seventh Day and sanctified it, because in it he rested from all His work which he had created and made..."

So we can see that this is the day that God rested from all that He had done. It is the only time in the Bible that we hear of God resting. It does not say that God was tired, but there was a complete cessation from work.

Lets continue to look at another passage which talk about rest, and the Sabbath day. In Leviticus 25V4-5, it says that:

"...during the seventh year, the land shall have a Sabbath rest, a Sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Your harvest's aftergrowth you shall not reap and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year."

Wow! This means that the whole year round, there isn't a need for the people to work for their crops; because God mentions in the next verse, that he will provide sabbath products for everyone, including the animals as well. So we can see that God really takes the period of sabbath very seriously. (That's also how you get the term "Sabbatical" which means to go on a long period of no-pay leave/course)

What is true in the natural realm, is also true in the spiritual realm! It is common sense that indeed we are not God. But as human beings, we do get tired sometimes and it is IMPORTANT for us to set aside time to rest and recuperate. This "sabbath" of yours doesn't have to be on Sunday alone, nor does it have to be one day only, but it can also be on other days of the week as well. :)

But also, have not each of us, at one time or another, put a lot of effort into doing something, and even though we were not tired, we just sat back and relaxed and reflected on what we had done. Did not such resting and reflection refresh us?

So guys, please take your rest when you need to. God cannot use you if you are sick/tired/weary.

And Chris rested on this very Saturday

:)