#TheoThursday – Sabbath

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Theological thoughts on the workplace

“Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 8:20

I’ve led a couples community group for ten years and the most push-back I have ever received was over challenging the group to observe the Sabbath.

I’ve led a sales team the last five years and some of the strongest push-back I have ever received was over suggesting that they turn email off on vacation.

Welcome to the twenty-first century.

And I’m not throwing stones. I struggle with this immensely. In fact, I failed to take one week off exercising the entire 2018.

Ask my wife how that worked out. I am sure she has grown tired about me whining about my shoulder injury (since August), and now a leg injury.

Remember the Sabbath?

Leaders need to know when to stop.

In reading the Gospel, I always find it fascinating that Jesus withdrew from crowds to rest. For example, he fed the 5,000, and then “he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone” (Matthew 14:23).

If that was written about me, it would go something like this: “He got up at 5 a.m. to workout, worked all day, answered a bunch of emails, digested a bunch of leadership information – all to make him feel ‘good enough’ and ‘competent.’ Then, he went home where he was distracted, and still thinking about the day. He didn’t make time to feed the starving or rest.”

Resisting the urge to move forward, I am going to revisit this topic next week. In part 2, I want to consider the benefits of obeying this command – taking a Sabbath – and examine the benefits of rest to organizational leadership.

Before leaving, however, I do have a challenge.

Rest this week.

I haven’t lifted a single weight the last seven days.

2019 has already been an improvement.