CREDIT: Dejan Krsmanovic 0n FLICKR
Dear Children of God,
Rest, “true rest” that restores and refreshes, is a rare commodity these days. I often hear people come back from vacation saying, “Whew! Glad I’m back. I need a rest from my vacation!” Rest is illusive because it means “ceasing, stopping any stressful activity to regain strength and energy.” It’s hard to completely stop in our busy lives – even when we’re on vacation!
Many think King Solomon is “The Preacher” in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, a book on the many ways people pursue “rest” in the hopes of attaining what they think is great in the world. That “thing” varies, depending on a person’s focus – wisdom, pleasure, adulation from others, power and influence, or wealth. Despite having it all, King Solomon finds this kind of rest is “vanity” – of no value or significance. When one gets a little, too often they want more – the cycle of “un-rest” continues. On wealth he says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money … this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) The Preacher’s search for rest continues fruitlessly for twelve chapters until he finally realizes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The man with almost everything the world can provide finds rest in the only place it truly exists – faith and trust in God and His promises.
The Preacher’s advice to us, after all he’s learned, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18) God has created each of us. He’s given us time, talent, and treasure – not to serve ourselves, but to serve Him and His creation. As we realize this, our toil turns from a “burden to escape,” into a “blessing to be enjoyed.” Let’s rest in God and His promises.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim