Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.

“Remember the Sabbath
day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the
seventh days is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any
work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female
servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in
six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and
rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made
it holy.” Exodus 20: 8-11

What happened to
taking time off for rest? Are we so consumed with wanting the newest car,
living in the biggest house, playing with the latest electronics, and draping
ourselves in the trendiest fashions that we have forgotten how to rest? Have
our lifestyles become so expensive that we are forced to work ridiculous hours
that keep us from family and friends? And does keeping up with all this drain
every ounce of energy, leave our tanks empty, and keep us from enjoying the
world God wants us to experience?

When I was a little
boy, growing up in small town Nebraska, nothing was open on Sundays. You had to
make sure your gas tank was full, your groceries were purchased, and your
banking needs covered.  There were no ATM’s, no paying at the pump, and no
retailers available for those that forgot to get their errands accomplished.
Sundays were a day for church, family, and relaxation. A day where people
gathered at the park for a picnic, fellowshipped with one another in the
comfort of their homes, fished by the lake side, or took a relaxing drive
across God’s countryside. Yes, Sundays were a time to relax, rejuvenate, and
replenish before another work week began, but somewhere along the way, the idea
of having a day off was erased.

We were not built to
work all the time. This has been proven by the rise in heart disease, bad
diets, broken homes, violent tendencies, and mental illness. We work so much
that our stress levels overcome everything that is important in life. We
struggle to sit down and have meals together. We struggle to take the time to
really get to know one another. And we struggle to walk the path Jesus has
asked us to walk. We struggle so much that companies are making billions of
dollars, every year, to manage our anxiety and sleep through medications that
allow us to keep working.

As I sit here and
think about the meaning of Labor Day, and why it was created, I am reminded how
important it is to take time off and rest. When our bodies are tired, we can no
longer help our neighbors in need who are not physically able. When our minds
are tired, we can no longer have those meaningful conversations that bring
others closer to God. And when our souls are weary, we are not open to the
beauty God wants to show us. Reading the Bible, lending a helping hand, and
extending God’s grace suffer because we do not have the energy left to pursue
God’s mission for our lives.

I pray that you take
some time to relax this Labor Day. I pray that you think about where you can
give yourself more time. And I pray that you can make some life changes that
allow you to focus on God and what he wants you to do in this short time on
Earth. We need to relax. We need to focus. And we need to allow the Holy Spirit
to breathe into us so we have the energy to do his will. Prioritize, take a
step back, and allow the love of God to carry you through each day. There is
plenty of work to be done, but when you have had enough, when you become weary,
and when there is nothing left in the tank, remember to find refuge in God’s
loving arms and rest in the comfort of knowing his love for you is strong. That
is a message that keeps me going, and I pray it is enough for you as well.

“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