Introduction: Today is probably the hardest for us to apply. The other difficult one is not coveting. But today we want to talk about overcoming workaholism. The two really seem to go hand in hand as we work more hours to have more things.
How can you tell if you are a workaholic? Yes/No
1) Do you ever get tired of thinking about what you have to do?
2) Do you use your day off to catch up on your work?
Little boy kept asking his dad to play with him and each day the answer was the same. He had a brief case full of work to do and just could not take the time to play. One day the little boy asked and the father replied as he always did and the little boy said dad you know there was a boy in my class who kept getting behind in his work and pone day they moved him back to the slow class.
3) Do all of your Christmas cards come from business associates?
4) Has more than one person told you to slow down?
5) Your family refers to you as occupant.
Exodus 20:8-9
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
The Sabbath means: A day of rest
Holy means set apart.
Take a break, a day off
They has been slaves and probably never had a day off before. God told the I want you to take a day off.
A day of rest a day of worship a day of refocusing my life.
Purpose so we would not burnout.
You will not know the results of workaholism for about 10 years.
Symptoms of workaholism
Bad health
Poor marriage
Children struggling
How do I keep the Sabbath without it becoming a religious thing?
Blue laws
Illegal to fish for whales on Sunday in Dayton Ohio
Illegal to buy corn flakes in Columbus
Allowed to speed if you are late to church
Unmarried women are not allowed to parachute on Sunday
Illegal after 6 pm to eat cottage cheese
Illegal for women to wear paten leather shoes in public
Illegal to get a fish drunk
Mark 2:27
Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Romans 14:5-6
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. [6] He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Three R’s for a successful Sabbath
1) Rest my body
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.
God never intended for us to go 24/7. We are not the managers of the universe. The world will go on if we do not answer that page or we do not answer the phone.
African Proverb: My soul needs a day to catch up on his rest
Eccles. 10:15
A fool’s work wearies him; he does not know the way to town.
Some people take a day off from work and play as hard as they work. Don’t be that competitive on your day off.
Ps. 23 – He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Kids going to bed or taking a nap.
Drink
Bathroom
Story
Another drink
Kids are pros at putting off resting but they have often learned fro the best. We think of million reasons why not to take a day off.
2) Recharge my emotions
Mark 6:31
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
We can be physically tired but more often we are emotionally tired. We kid ourselves by saying we can do it all. Who are we trying to kid. It is not possible. Even Jesus took time off.
God is not even asking me to.
Even the energizer bunny needs to recharge.
How do you recharge your emotions?
1) Huge doses of inspiration and
2) encouragement
Mark 8:36
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
3) Refocus my spirit
Psalm 122:1
A song of ascents. Of David.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."
Every 38 sec. needs a course correction
How does life get out of focus?
1) If this is going to be, it’s going to be up to me
2) Focusing on all my problems
Step back
Slow down
Lord speak to me
Coming to church takes that mountain and returns it to the mole hill it really is.
2 ways of doing church
1) Discouraging
2) Encouraging
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Good cop
Bad cop
I was teaching my Bible class and look at that those blank stares and realized I was boring myself.
Some people come to church looking for a reason not to come back. Others come to church with a mask on. Others come to church expecting it to be boring. Very few come to church looking for something good to happen at church.
Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
How to really enjoy a real rest
• Don’t feel guilty
If the devil is reminding you of your past, remind him of his future
• Turn off the noise
Psalm 23:2-3
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, [3] he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
• Tune into relationships
Eccles. 9:9
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun--all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.
African Proverb: Take some time talk to your wife and play with your kids, take some time play with you wife and talk to your kids
• Touch other believers
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
You can get better messages on TV or radio than in any church in the area including here. You have Dobson, Swindoll, Stanley. But we need more than a good sermon. We need other believers. We need human touch. There are about 60 things that we cannot do by ourselves. Love one another, Encourage one another, Help one another.
Body: Exchange my pressures for His peace
Soul: Exchange my fatigue for His power
Spirit: Exchange my fears for His presence
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
