We live in a culture that often celebrates burn out, stress and over working. If you aren’t constantly running and being productive, you may be perceived by some as being lazy or not having a good work ethic. When people ask ‘How ya been?’, more often than not, the answer we give is something along the lines of: “Staying busy!” This answer is sometimes very true. We are busy people. Sometimes it’s of our own doing and unnecessary, and other times there is no way around it. We find ourselves in a busier, stressful season, that we just have to keep pushing through. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to look back at my life though and just reflect on how busy I was. Rather, I want to steward my life well and live intentionally, not just stay “busy”. As I just mentioned, there is a difference in busy seasons, and just staying in that state because you think you’re supposed to.

I am not a fan of extreme’s. There may be some things in life where camping out in an extreme is appropriate (particularly when it comes to the things of Jesus Christ). But there are LOTS of things in life, where extreme’s are unnecessary, not helpful, and just not true. Much of life is nuance and there are some things in life where two things can be true at once. The Bible points to the truth of both work and rest as being being equally important and true. Both are necessary to flourishing as humans made in God’s image. The Bible speaks to the reality that we should live in the tension of work and rest: not always working, and not always resting. But nonetheless, both should exist well in our lives.

If you’re like me, you enjoy being productive. Checking off things on your to-do list feels good. You like to feel like you accomplished something important and made the most of your day. I know that I also enjoy getting to be a part of new opportunities. It feels good to be asked to do something and contribute to something beyond yourself.

Where is the line, though? At what point are we too obsessed with being productive and progressing with the fast pace of culture? A few Scriptures come to mind:

Psalm 127:1-2

Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food—yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.

A quick note from the CSB Study Bible: “Ecclesiastes returns to the theme of wealth, describing how foolish it is to spend one’s life in pursuit of riches. First, Solomon declares that people work hard not out of love for the task, but out of a desire to do better than their peers. The work and wealth it brings gives no satisfaction; there is only the pathetic pleasure of beating others in a race for success. Second, a conventional proverb declares that laziness brings on poverty. Against this, v. 6 gives a counter lesson – that it is better to have little with peace than to have much with a constant hunger for more. A strong work ethic is not wrong, but it needs to be balanced with an appreciate for the joys of life.”

Exodus 20:8-10

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates.

Mark 6:30-32

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

There are many more Scriptures that could be mentioned about the Biblical pattern of both work and rest. As I pray and reflect through the ones I mentioned, here are some practical take away’s that I’m trying to apply in my own life, and I pray they encourage you too:

• Work for a greater purpose.

As Christians, our jobs and vocation should not be about climbing a ladder to make a name for ourselves. As Colossians 3 says, our jobs and vocation are meant to be an opportunity to reflect Christ in the workplace, contribute to our society through our gifts and talents, and provide for our families. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t excel in our work and grow and advance as a leader, but this should happen in humility and only if the Lord wills.

Even though we should work hard, our identity cannot be wrapped up in work. Our jobs are important and have value, but they are temporary, and will most likely change throughout our lives. Christians have an opportunity though to reflect Jesus in every work they are a part of. What an incredible calling!

• Rest for a greater purpose.

When we rest, we are acknowledging that the world does not depend on us working. I fully believe that the Sabbath should still be practiced today. Although all of the 613 laws that were given to Israel don’t apply to us today, the 10 Commandments do. And the Sabbath is in the 10. When we can’t take one day out of the week to put our weekday work down, we have a much bigger problem. We may be addicted to work and unable to enjoy life outside of it. Side note: I believe this should include not checking our work email as well. If work email is tied to work, why do we check it on our off days? In the Scriptures, Sabbath was a complete ceasing of any kind of work, so that God’s people could fully depend on Him and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Now, work looks very different today than it did then. They didn’t necessarily always have 9-5 jobs happening during the week. Their vocation / work and household duties were often blended together, which is why everything had to be done before the Sabbath, even their house chores and cooking. Today, our Sabbath may not mean not cooking, cleaning, or cutting grass (I actually find that one relaxing), but it certainly should mean putting our 9-5 weekday jobs down the best we can, so we can enjoy our families, friends, and the things that fill us up. Some of us may have to get more creative with this than others, but it’s still important.

• Don’t allow exhausting and stressful seasons to become your normal.

I’m currently in a busy season. I’ve got several things happening at one time this Fall. I knew this season was coming though, and I did my best to prepare for it. Once the year ends, this season will be fading out. I fully intend to NOT be doing all of these things after 2026 ends, because that season will be over. In fact, I literally cannot do all these things forever, because this is not sustainable! It’s just a season, for a greater purpose. This season though, cannot become my normal.

If you find yourself always in a busy, exhausting season, you are not just living in a season. It has become your life! On the one hand, it is amazing how God sustains and carries us through difficult seasons. When we are at our end, the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to power through (2 Corinthians 12:9). On the other hand, there are times throughout our lives that we create situations that we don’t have to be in. As I mentioned earlier, life is very nuanced and we each have to navigate things along the way, but as long as we are being intentional with the Lord, He will grant us the wisdom we need.

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So, two things CAN be true. And according to Scripture, these two things are true: Work AND Rest.

May God give us wisdom to live them both out well!