Are you constantly busy and never seem to get a rest from business and toil? So many workplaces are recognising the importance of the balance between work and rest. Too many people are suffering from the effects of stress. There is legislation in most of Europe to limit the maximum amount of hours a worker is required to work and the number of annual public holidays have been increased.

In the time of Jesus the challenge was from legalism. Instead of rest, it was a list of things to do and not do. Everything was defined by the quality of your performance rather than the simple joy of resting.

1 – The perils of religion

Is God’s approval achieved through legalism? Is it all about your own performance? It is a relationship rather than religion? Legalism can be defined as “the tendency to reduce Christianity to a set of rules rather than a personal relationship with Christ” (Truman Dollar). This ends up being a system that judges an individual’s relationship to God in terms of adherence to man-made rules. It is subtle and pervasive, and therefore deadly to the life of the church. Legalism is very judgmental. It also eliminates the need for true biblical decision-making. Making personal moral decisions is not necessary when they are being made for you by another individual or by some spiritual hierarchy. A legalistic system generally leads to frustration and misery. It tends to produce morally weak people who live with an unbiblical sense of guilt.

• Legalism diminishes life. It is not about ritualistic performance. We are accepted by God despite of our performance. You can’t earn any more when you have grace. Coming to every meeting in Church will not mean that God will love you more. Although you may love Him more if you do!
• Legalism is mindless. With legalism you are to do it without questioning it. Some people find this very appealing. This is black, this is white, go and have a good time! E.g. don’t buy a newspaper on a Sunday.
• Legalism is attractive. It is attractive when it is about performance. You start thinking you are better than others. It becomes competitive. It happened in Jesus’ days and it happens today.
• Legalism is competitive. This competitiveness leads to people becoming proud. You can end up having a plank in your own eye. It is DONE and not DO! Legalism is the opposite of grace.

2 – The privileges of relationship

See Isaiah 58:14-15. The Sabbath life is about three things:-

• Cease work – It is to be a time of rest and relaxation. Our lives need to have a rhythm. There needs to be a balance between work and rest. You cannot keep going all the time. If you don’t rest then you may die from die from stress!
• Delight in the time – Enjoy your time of rest. It could be reading a good book, going to the gym, hiking in the mountains or going on a holiday. You can look forward to it. You can enjoy it when you experience it. You can look back with fond memories.
• Find joy in the Lord – Worship, listen and obey. Don’t let your motivation be legalism. Let it be love. Be motivated by grace and mercy in your walk with God. We need to become more like Jesus.

Categories: Mark