“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy”. Exodus 20:1–17. “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest: even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest”. Exodus 34:21. It is quite unfortunate that most people who call themselves Christians no longer keep the Sabbath day holy as commanded by God. The nature of our work in today’s world is such that people are working for almost 24 hours 7 days a week. We hardly find time to rest. But in life, it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day.
We labor every day in search for finances in order to provide for our own needs. We have to provide food for our families, pay our children’s school fees, cloth ourselves, build a good shelter and a lot more. Because of all these loads of responsibilities place one your shoulder, you become too busy that your Christian life is compromised. As a Christian, you need to know that it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day. It is highly recommended that there should be some balance between your work, family, and your vocation.
Create time for your family
Career is one of the main causes of family break-ups in today’s society. This is mainly due to inability to balance between work and family life. Both work and family are important and there is need to have enough time for both. You cannot stop going to work because you still need the finances. Similarly, you cannot let your work take you away from your family. Your spouse and children need you. So it is good to strike a balance between the two. Go to work, and later find time to be with your family. If you are working far away from them, find some time to visit home.
Do not let your work come between you and your God
Your employer wants you to report to work throughout the week, your business needs you, you have to attend to your clients, and your farm requires your attention. This means you have to put extra effort and energy into your work. This is where the danger lies; you will easily make an idol out of your work. This is because you won’t even have time to rest; time to spend with your Creator.
In as much as we want the best out of our work, as Christians, let us not be locked in the culture where we are defined by our work. At no point should a Christian fit into such culture.
Working throughout doesn’t necessarily bring success
Ask the successful in the society and they will tell you that it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day. To succeed in life does not mean that just work, work, and work. Even the fastest person does not win always; the wise will sometimes go hungry while the strongest can lose a fight. But why is that? Because success is defined by being in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.
Realize your true vocation
Other than the work that you do in order to your wages, God has called you to serve Him in another capacity. Your vocation is meant to merge your mission in this life and that of God on the earth.
Apart from your work, you could be a mentor, or a worship leader, a counselor, a Sunday school teacher, and much more. You won’t be able to realize your vocation if you are so much into your work. Having time to rest or attend church activities will help you realize this.
Bottom line
Yes, it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day. You too need time to rest. You need to balance between your career, your vocation, and your family. You need time to participate in the social life, to rest, to meditate, time to prayer, time to be with your family.
Remember you can accumulate all the wealth in the world, but all is vanity. Some day you will leave them.
