Spiritual Disciplines for Regular Guys: Sabbath and Work
My jobs – 7-11; delivery; hotels; longshore; journalism; bookstore; pastor; 2 org’s
=Stronger @ work than rest (days off, vacations)
Plan A. – take a break
Plan B. – work until you break (sick, health crisis, hospital)
Japan “Karoshi” = working to death. Dying on the job
Sons like Father
– Gen. 2:2 – 6 day God rested, 1 day God rested
– 6 literal days of creation
– Atheistic nations tried non 7-day week 1793-1805 French Rev; 1929-1940 Russians
Men at Work
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work
Genesis 3:17 “And to Adam he said…“cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life…”
Men were made to work
Our work is cursed
- Option #1. Don’t work
- Option #2. Work yourself to death
- Option #3. Work hard, Sabbath well, trust God to honor your obedience
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What the NILF?
- NILF – Men “Not In Labor Force”
- Today – record low unemployment, record low men in workforce %
- 7 million men 25-54 not working or looking for work
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Boys Who Can Shave
- Gov’t $ during COVID
- Moved home w/mom no plan moving out (1stever MOST 18-34 living w/parents)
- Little boys don’t work. MEN work!
= soft generation over mothered, under fathered,
Sabbath and Work for Regular Guys
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep 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, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
- Sabbath = “cease/rest” (POUR IN)
- Work – (POUR OUT)
God our Father, Sons follow Father’s example
- “evening and morning” – Sabbath then work
- Daily Sabbath. Weekly Sabbath
What Day Should You Sabbath?
Romans 14:5-6a “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.”
Colossians 2:16 let no one pass judgment on you…with regard to a…Sabbath.
1. OT – Saturday – Genesis 2:2
2. Resurrection – Sunday
-Rose “First day of the week” (Matt 28:1; Mk 16:1-2; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:19)
– Early church met “first day of the week” (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2)
-“The Lords Day” (Revelation 1:10)
3. Constantine 321 AD shifted Sat to Sun
4. US both = 2-day weekend
6 Sabbath Suggestions
- Plan your Sabbath
- Protect your Sabbath (e.g. technology)
- Don’t get religious (Mark 2:27)
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
- Have a Sabbath heart (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- Learn the difference between time and energy management
- Do whatever you find restful for recovery
6 days God “breathed out” 7th day God “breathed in”
Discussion and Prayer
- How’s it going at work?
- How’s it going on your day off?
- How can we pray for you?
