Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
Exodus 34:21
Have you ever been so caught up in your work that you forget to take a break? I know I have. There are moments when I work where I am in “the zone” and time flies. It feels great and you can see the progress you made in the whole day. This feeling is what can make work addicting.
Being addicted to work is not good since work starts taking over the different areas of your life. For example, you might choose to stay at work rather than go home to your family. You might choose to wake up earlier just to get more work done than getting the rest you need. You might even forget to spend time with God each day (this is something I struggle with).
Here in Exodus 34:21, God commands us to rest every seven days, even when we are very busy with work. Back then, a lot of people were farmers. Planting time and harvesting time were the most important times. Taking a break during that time wouldn’t be ideal. Yet, God tells them that they must rest. We are not created to be machines and work seven days a week.
We must take the time away from work to have a break. Rest is so important, that in Leviticus, God commands his people to take a year-long break every seven years called a Sabbath year (Leviticus 25).
While resting, it is important to spend time with God: spend time reading the Bible, praying, and writing in a journal. God is always waiting for us to spend time with Him.
Other things you can do while you are on your break is to spend time in your hobbies, spend time with friends and family, and do some traveling.
A day of rest every week is good for your physical, mental, and spiritual health. So take a break.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:1-2