Should You Keep the Sabbath?

Scripture — Mark 2:23-27 (NRSV)

One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Devotion

For centuries, Christians have debated the question of Sabbath-keeping, proposing a wide range of answers, often with more heat than light. Thus, it seems almost foolish for me to think that I can responsibly address the question “Should you keep the Sabbath?” in one short devotional. Nevertheless, I want to offer some basic parameters that might help guide your thinking and practice.

First, Genesis 2:1-3 encourages all of us to pattern our lives after God’s example: “And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.” If God rested one day after working six, wouldn’t this be a good model for us to follow?

Second, the importance of Sabbath-keeping for God’s people is reiterated in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:8-11, the rationale for a day of rest is the fact that “the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God.” The passage specifically mentions God’s resting on the seventh day after making heaven and earth as undergirding the command to keep the Sabbath. Moreover, setting aside a day for rest is something, not only for the Jews, but also for “the alien resident in your towns” (Exod 20:10). By implication, it is for all human beings, not to mention domestic animals (Exod 20:10).

Third, Jesus opposed a legalistic approach to Sabbath-keeping (Mark 2:23-28). Yet, he taught that “The sabbath was made for humankind” (Mark 2:27). It is not a rule to be followed so much as a gift to be received. As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus affirms its value even as he points us away from neglecting its core purpose or turning it into a set of regulations.

Fourth, as Christians, we have freedom concerning exactly how we live out the edifying rituals and traditions of our faith. In this freedom, we must seek biblical guidance as we follow our consciences and the wisdom of our Christian community. Moreover, we must not stand in judgment on those who disagree with us about matters that are not essential to Christian faith and practice. In the discussion of the Sabbath, we must extend grace and forbearance to our sisters and brothers. (See Romans 14:1-23.)

Fifth, we would be wise to learn from those who have discovered the joys of Sabbath-keeping. Moreover, we ought to pay attention to studies that commend rest for health or even as a way to increase productivity at work (see yesterday’s devotion). However, we must not reduce the Sabbath to a mechanism for getting more done. God’s example in Genesis 2:1-3 suggests that rest means more than this. It shows that God has made us, not only for work, but also for rest.

Sixth, in the matter of Sabbath-keeping, as in other areas of discernment, we need the wisdom, counsel, teaching, and accountability of the body of Christ. This is the sort of question that is best considered in small groups, churches, mission teams, families, and other contexts of shared spiritual discernment.

In conclusion, I’d like to add a personal word.

My experience of Sabbath-keeping has varied greatly over the years. Early in life, I had no particular sense of Sabbath, though my family always went to church on Sundays. In college and graduate school, the weekends were an optimal time to catch up on homework. Sabbath never crossed my mind.

Then, for the first two decades of my working life, I was a pastor. Working on Sundays was, of course, required. But as I began to understand the importance of Sabbath, I structured my life so that I had a regular day of rest. It began on Sunday afternoon and continued through Monday afternoon. I would rest, play with my children, take a walk with my wife, read something unrelated to work, hike, take a nap, work out at the gym, and do things that nourished my soul.

Since leaving full-time pastoral ministry 18 years ago, my Sabbath practices have varied. Today, I stop working on Saturday afternoon and don’t start up again until Sunday late afternoon. (When I am a guest preacher, maybe 15 times a year, this pattern doesn’t work, of course.) During my Sabbath, I spend time with my wife, family, and friends. When I’m in town, I worship with my church on Sunday morning.

I confess that for a while I found it tempting to sneak in some work on Sunday mornings, since I had two or three free hours before the worship service. As I prayed about this and talked with my spiritual director, I sensed God guiding me to add a practice to my weekly Sabbath. Now, a couple of hours before worship begins, I drive to a coffee place near my church. Sitting down with a drink and a breakfast sandwich, I spend relaxed time reviewing the past week (rather like a weekly Examen). I talk with God about whatever comes to mind. I jot down my thoughts and feelings in my journal. This truly is a Sabbath moment for me because I feel unrushed. I am resting and praying. Then, when it’s time for worship, my soul is ready to spend time with God and God’s people.

I describe my experience not to hold myself up as some paragon of Sabbath-keeping. This I am not! But I hope that my story might encourage you to be creative, to try different things, and to discover what Sabbath keeping means for you in this season of life.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Is a Weekly Sabbath Observance Expected of Christians?.