A theology of work: part 4 - rest

Work at the end

Understandably, whatever the Bible teaches about work is only fully understood when we consider it alongside what the Bible teaches about rest.  In fact, if we look back at Gen 2:1-3, we find that the Bible has been teaching about rest for as long as its been teaching about work, for God worked in creation and then he rested from his work.

In the Ten Commandments the pattern of God’s work and rest was to become the pattern for Israel, working six days and resting on the seventh (Exod 20:8-11), as she modelled to the surrounding nations what it meant to be the people of God who were enjoying God’s work of salvation.  It would not do for Israel to exhibit the same kinds of workaholism that is so prevalent in cities like Sydney today.  Later on Israel was meant to enjoy rest in the Promised Land (e.g., Deut 12:10).  For a time she did (e.g., 2 Sam 7:1), although it was taken away from her in the judgment of the exile.

Then the Lord Jesus comes along, calling people in Mt 11:28-30:

Come to me, all who labour 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.”

Ultimately, of course, we will not rest until we take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us: the salvation that will be revealed in the last day, and which will take place in the New Jerusalem, where our songs of praise and thanksgiving will never end.  The Bible does not describe this future using the category of work, yet it doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to consider it as a joyful work of God’s heavenly people, much as a greater fulfilment of the joyful work the first man and woman were to do.  Strictly, though, work will stop, but rest will continue.

I said a stupid thing the other day.  I was talking to a neighbour who commented about how busy I was.  To which I responded, ‘Better to burn out than to rust’.  What stupid male bravado is encapsulated in those words!

Perhaps as a choice between the two, one is better than the other.  But what a foolish response for someone who knows that God doesn’t want me to do either of them.  Work hard?  Absolutely.  Because work is good, and it’s a necessary part of life as God’s image-bearers in this world that God has made.  More than that, because we know that Jesus is Lord, and because he is always watching us, therefore we will work as to the Lord.  But rest as well?  Definitely.  Not for the sake of rusting, but rather for the sake of enjoying God’s good provision for our needs, and as an expression of our certain hope that through Christ we will enjoy God and his good work of salvation to the end of the ages.