We should rest in Christ alone for our salvation. But along with that there is still an abiding principle that we ought to worship on the Lord’s Day and trust God enough to have a weekly routine where we cease from our normal labors… He made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). God gives us Sabbath as a gift; it’s an island of get-to in a sea of have-to. He also offers us Sabbath as a test; it’s an opportunity to trust God’s work more than our own. When I go weeks without taking adequate time off, I may or may not be disobeying the fourth commandment, but I’m certainly too convinced of my own importance and more than a little foolish. If my goal is God-glorifying productivity over a lifetime of hard work, there are few things I need more than a regular rhythm of rest.

— Kevin DeYoung (b. 1977), Theologe, Pastor und Autor

Related Bible passage: MRK.2.27

Topics: Work & Vocation, Peace & Rest, Faith & Trust

Occasions: For Reflection

Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung (* 1977) ist ein US-amerikanischer reformierter Theologe, Pastor der Presbyterian Church in America und Buchautor. Er gilt als prominente Stimme des zeitgenössischen Neo-Calvinismus, engagiert sich bei The Gospel Coalition und vertritt ein komplementaristisches Rollenverständnis sowie eine traditionelle Sexualethik. Bibellesern vermittelt er theologische Fragen und Themen der christlichen Lebensführung aus klassisch-reformierter Perspektive, stößt mit seinen konservativen Positionen jedoch auch auf inner- und außerkirchliche Kritik.

All quotes by Kevin DeYoung (60)

More on this topic

God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.

Mother Teresa

Jenny, God has made me for a purpose – for China; but He has also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure

Eric Liddell

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.

Brother Lawrence

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

All quotes · lumen.bible