10 Commandments #4: God's Words To The Busy And Distracted Series

GOD'S WORD TO THE BUSY & DISTRACTED

Ten Commandments That Build Strong Families - Part 4

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Exodus 20:8-9

Do you ever get tired just thinking of what you've got to do? Do you ever find yourself as

fatigued on Monday morning as you were on Friday afternoon? Do you ever feel guilty when you

relax?

Today we're going to look at what God has to say about taking a day off. Workaholism hurts

you, and it hurts your families? The fourth commandment is all about taking time off to restore

and connect with others.

God's saying, "I am commanding you to take a day off from being busy every week."

Exodus 20:8-9 "Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days in which to do your

work but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work." That's

clear. Have a dedicated time when you’re not working.

I. THE SABBATH: ANTIDOTE TO BURNOUT

What does the word Sabbath mean? Sabbath means "Day of rest". God says every seventh day

you are to take a day of rest.

Mark 2:27, Jesus said "The Sabbath was made to benefit man, and not man to benefit the

Sabbath." God says "I want you to prevent burnout.”

Every seven days you need to get physically, emotionally, and spiritually recharged because your

batteries run down. Rest and doing things that restore you are the antidotes to burnout. We live

in a stress-filled world. So regularly take time away to recharge your life and your relationships.

It doesn't matter when you take a Sabbath, what’s important is that you do it as least once a week.

The three religions -- Islam, Judaism and Christianity -- the Muslims celebrate the Sabbath on

Friday, the Jews celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday, and the Christians celebrate the Sabbath on

Sunday. Col 2:16-17 says as a Christian you're no longer tied down by what day you celebrate the

Sabbath on.

Paul says in Romans 14:5-6 (LB) "Every day alike belongs to God.” Pick specific days a week to

use for rest and recreation and restoration and reconnecting with your family and for worship.

II. WHAT TO DO ON YOUR SABBATH

How do I "keep it holy"?

What does it mean to be holy? Holy means "set apart", different from the rest of the week.

Change your pace and change what and who you focus on during your Sabbath days.

How do I keep the day holy? By using it the way God intended.

GOD'S WORD TO THE BUSY & DISTRACTED

Ten Commandments That Build Strong Families - Part 4

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What does God intend for me to do on my Sabbath? Use your “set apart” days to rest, recharge,

reconnect and refocus.

1. God says use the day to rest my body.

Psalm 127:2 "God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest."

This is so important that God used Himself as an example. When he created the world, he took

six days to create the world and on the seventh He rested. Was God tired? No, He was modeling

something God says is an important principal of life -- take time off to rest your body.

The supreme court of the United States has laws that businesses be closed on Sunday, not on

religious grounds but on the grounds of the human being has the need for periodic rest.

Inc. Magazine recently had a survey that said 62% of the people in America say "I have burned

out or I am on the way." You can be consumed by your career or even by ministry. We are

tempted to stay busy for more money, more recognition, a promotion, a sense of fulfillment,

achievement and accomplishment. All these powerful forces say "work more". Many of us can

become addicted to our work. But our bodies were not built for non stop work.

Eccl. 10:15 "Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work!"

When you go home BE at home! Be fully present to yourself and to your loved ones. Efficiency

experts now say that they've discovered that reasonably spaced rest periods increase productivity

over the person who works continually and constantly.

An old Indian parable says, "You break the bow if it's always bent."

Ps. 23 "The Lord is my shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures."

Has God ever had to make you lie down because you wouldn't do it on your own?

If you never take any days off, never observe the fourth commandment, there’s likely a chance

you’ll end up observing it in the hospital.

If you say, "When I relax, I feel guilty." You don't need to feel guilty. Jesus relaxed and He