INTRODUCTION

It does not take long to figure out that life frequently resembles an unchanging cycle consummated by death. For instance, a person wakes up in the morning to go to work (oftentimes for ten plus hours). He returns home to do more work before retiring for the night. The next morning, he awakens only to repeat the same cycle each working day. For most people, this cycle goes somewhat uninterrupted for weeks, months, and then years. Eventually, this cycle wears a man down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If a man continues this cycle with no rest, he can lose his health and strength, and eventually even his mind. At some point, every man requires rest from his labour. It helps to visualize this life as more closely associated to a marathon than to a sprint. A man’s failure to take time away from the pressures of life will eventually take time away from the sum total of his years.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Name some things dad and mom have to do over and over again. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, God said work would be hard, whether the work was physical or mental labour (Genesis 3:17-19 [17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
  See All...; Ecclesiastes 12:12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
  See All...b). It is done day after day (Psalm 104:23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): It is wicked to be slothful or lazy (Matthew 25:26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
  See All...), but it is equally dangerous to fail to take the necessary times of rest. In which of these two opposite ends of the spectrum do you find yourself most often?
• What do you do when you rest? Why is it important to do the right things to find rest? How can certain things, although meant to give rest, actually rob you of rest?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you find the proper balance of labour and rest.
• Thank the Lord for the times of rest He provides.

HYMN

COME UNTO ME (JONES)

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