Sunday Is The Son's Day Series

The phrase “shall labor” carries the idea of “must.” “Labor” refers to the general things we do, in and outside the home, to keep things going. “Work” is what we do for our livelihood. We’re exhorted to exert ourselves in labor, service, and work for six-sevenths of our time, which is actually very generous of God.

Kevin DeYoung writes, “Every time and everywhere we cycle through Sunday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday, we are embodying the Sabbath principles introduced into the world by God Himself.”

God established the pattern of working and resting when He provided His people with manna to eat. They were to collect twice as much on the sixth day so they would not work on the seventh. Exodus 16:23: “…tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’”

While some of us struggle with overwork, it seems others are losing their work ethic. With millions of jobs available, there are relatively few applicants. This week, Daniel Henninger, writing for The Wall Street Journal, offered this insight: “I believe the pandemic accelerated a transition evident for years away from the basic concept of daily work and toward an emerging idea that life is less about work and more about play. Life as a nonstop game.”

According to recent statistics revealed by The Wall Street Journal, there are currently 8 million fewer Americans working than before the advent of COVID-19. Employers are lamenting that people are not flocking to take these jobs because they’re tired of not working. Rather, the evidence is that millions upon millions of Americans have decided they like not working.

Albert Mohler made this observation on The Briefing this week: “The Sabbath command only makes sense if the normal mode of human activity is work rather than rest.”

God calls us to be a people who are productive by doing an honest week’s work: 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’” We are commissioned and commanded to work.

According to Genesis 2:15, labor has always been part of God’s plan for us, even before the fall. As much as you might not care for your job, work itself is not part of the curse. He has placed each of us on purpose to be involved in His purposes.

While the Israelites were to work for six days, one day of rest was compulsory and comprehensive, and it was for everyone in the household: “…or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” Parents are to run point on this, making sure sons and daughters know six days are for work and one day is to be dedicated to worship.

3. Remember to revere. The purpose of remembering the Sabbath is to “keep it holy.” This is an emphatic imperative. The root means to “separate, to set apart.” It’s also translated as, “to elevate.” God set the Sabbath apart for a high and holy purpose. One commentator offers this translation: “Remember the stop-working day by observing its sacredness.” Jen Wilken writes, “But true Sabbath rest is set apart as holy: it is intended for worship as much as for well-being.”