“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.” Matthew 11:28-30
I don’t like many things; in fact I can come across as being a bit of a curmudgeon, a bit old before my time in my thinking.I grumble a lot, think Victor Meldrew before he got old…
I don’t like resting- Stopping for me is often a sign of weakness, that I have been stopped in my tracks from going forward. I often think rest is for older people who are past it. When I’m made to rest I’m very, very grumpy.
I’m also not a fan of Dolly Parton-Her music is horrendous but she did have something right in that song about working nine to five.
It seems that our productivity has gotten worse despite the amount of hours we work. Health report after report implores us to stop burning the candle at both ends and to begin to look after ourselves in the hope that we don’t reach a point of emotional and physical burnout.
But this isn’t the way of our Father. It’s not his desire to see his children continually running on the treadmill of life and dodging whatever comes towards them. He doesn’t want them to be hoping and willing themselves to cheat disaster.
Jesus, when giving his invitation, said that he gives rest. It’s only through rest that we can achieve more for him.
Working nine to five probably isn’t a way to make a living, but when God takes control we know that we are infinitely more productive when we take him at his word.