It Takes Humility to Rest

Note from today’s Bible reading: Leviticus 15-18

One of the more well-known commands in the Law of Moses was the instruction to rest on the Sabbath day (the seventh day of each week). However, this was not the only time God commanded His people to rest.

The day of atonement was also a day of rest. Not only would a sacrifice be offered so that they would “be clean from all [their] sins before the Lord,” but the day would also be “a sabbath of solemn rest” for them (Leviticus 16:30-31).

We live in a society where many people do not want to work, and the idea of commanding them to rest is absurd. Yet there are others who do not ever seem to rest. For these individuals, it is good to be reminded of the attitude necessary for the ambitious and diligent worker to stop and rest: “You shall humble your souls and not do any work” (Leviticus 16:29).

Often this inability to know how to rest is connected to an elevated sense of self-importance – working ceaselessly because they believe no one can do what they do and everything will fall apart if they are not active all the time. Even worse, it could be associated with a lack of trust in God. Neither attitude is right and should not be found in the people of God.

So remember that it takes humility to rest. Yes, we must work hard and do all we can to fulfill our responsibilities. But we also need to humble ourselves and take time to remember the blessings of God and the hope that we have through His grace.