People who know me know that I love what I do, and as strange as it many sound I often confuse it with downtime. Playing, working, and witnessing just tend to blur into a long continuous stream of activity. Even when I am goofing off, I am not really resting because my mind is always going and going.
Are you a workaholic? No matter what you do, God expects you to take some time to rest.
I like to work hard when I work. I love seeing results. I enjoy pushing myself to see how much I can get done. Sometimes I forget to rest. Sometimes I forget to eat. Being tired and having results comes with a great feeling of accomplishment. A completed task is truly its own reward.
If you walk up to me while I am playing some mindless Internet game, what you might not realize is that I am planning my next task or organizing my work in my mind. Sometimes I go to bed thinking about work, and I wake up thinking about work.
When I am not working on a task, I am reaching out and listening to others. Ministry is high on my to do list.
I just had the first free Saturday I have had in a while. I cherished my downtime. I made a point to tinker with whatever I was doing instead of rushing to get it done. I tried to linger with nothing moments cherishing the emptiness of my schedule for the day. The change of pace was much needed. It was good for me!
Did you know that being a workaholic – even in ministry – is not scriptural?
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mark 6:7
And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Mark 6:12-13
In the next section we read of the beheading of John the Baptist.
And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Mark 6:29-31
In order to be effective in your job or in ministry, you must take time to rest from time to time. God does not expect you to go on and on without resting. Remember, after spending 6 days creating, God rested on the seventh day.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Today’s challenge is to ask God to show you if you have been working too hard. If you have been driving yourself, perhaps it’s time for a break. A change of pace will give you time to refresh yourself. While you are on that break, remember to spend time with your family.