The Ten Commandments contain no commandment to work, but a commandment to rest from work. That is the reversal of what we are accustomed to think.

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), Theologe und Widerstandskämpfer

Related Bible passage: EXO.20.8

Topics: Work & Vocation, Peace & Rest, The Bible & the Word of God

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) war ein deutscher lutherischer Theologe, Pfarrer und führender Vertreter der Bekennenden Kirche, der unter anderem in Berlin, London und Finkenwalde wirkte. Er prägte den Begriff der „teuren Gnade“ und schloss sich aus christlicher Überzeugung dem Widerstand gegen das nationalsozialistische Regime an, weshalb er 1945 im Konzentrationslager Flossenbürg ermordet wurde. Seine Schriften fordern Bibelleser bis heute heraus, theologische Erkenntnis mit gelebter Nachfolge und ethischer Zivilcourage in Krisenzeiten zu verbinden.

All quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (630)

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God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.
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The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.
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Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body… Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It may be that the Last Day will dawn tomorrow; if so, we will gladly lay down our work for a better future, but not before.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.
Tim Keller

Our Lord's example is our example, not only on Calvary but in the workshop, on the road, in the crowd, amid interruptions, amid opposition, amid the lack of quiet and privacy, amid constant demands.
C.S. Lewis

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