Sabbath

And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. Ezekiel20:20¹

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,

and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

and expect your voice to be heard on high. Isaiah58:4 ²

“God established the Sabbath, the day of rest, not simply to exact from people what is due to him. Nor did he establish it merely that people might rest. Therefore the prophet Ezekiel explains how God’s Sabbaths should be sanctified or kept holy.”³

Sabbath

This morning I poured myself into the church office and opened my Bible program and looked at he reading from a book I have been going through, “365 Days With Calvin” It is a devotional book based on the writings of John Calvin’s commentaries. Today’s reading struck me with the idea of Sabbath. I remember well being taught what the word means and the reason why it was given. God told the people of Israel that the earth was made in six days and God rested. The same will be for the people of God. They will labor six days and rest on the seventh. We hold to a similar principle in U.S.A. today. We just get confused about which is the seventh, so we take off two days a week. The Jewish/Christian mind at work. Respect for the Jews and the Christians. But most people do not get the old dedicated days off any more. The U.S.A. still recognizes a five day work week, but not always coming to a close on Friday.

American Church Frustration

This frustrates many people, episodically those of us in the church world who see numbers quickly falling off. We blame all the world about taking over our Sunday mornings. We remember the good old days when everything was closed and everyone went to church. At least some people in the church speak about these days. I do not remember these times. Since I can remember, everything has had hours on Sunday. The hours may not be as long as today, but lots of places were open. Then I ask myself, “Am I helping to stop the business from being open on Sunday?” I get gas. I go out for dinner. I get supplies from the store. My actions are not helping the condition. Let alone the fact that God calls people to a Sabbath, a day of rest.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

As I read the selection today from Calvin and the Bible, I realized that the Sabbath was not about rest and maintaining a rule. It is also not about a day of the week. It is about an intentional encounter with God. No matter what day each person has to take a break, a day of rest. We need to give that time to God and let God restore us. The true reason for the Sabbath was to identify the people from the rest of the world as the people of God. Not because of a break, but because they gave something important to God, time. We can accomplish the same today. We can demonstrate to the world we are followers of Christ by giving something important to God, our time.

I want us to remember that he Sabbaths was about giving time to God to celebrate and rejoice in the Holiness of God. How will you celebrate God? 

 

1 Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 149). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

2 The New International Version. (2011). (Is 58:4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

3 Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 149). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

Stewardship

During November, I spend my Sunday sermon time on stewardship. Now most other pastors are probably doing the same thing or they just finished a series on Stewardship. It seems like the church year likes to point out near the end of the calendar year that you need to give the church money. We also push the idea that we want you tell us what you are going to give next year. I find this a little humorous since all of society is telling you right now is the best time to spend for Christmas. Sounds like we started that train long before any other store.

I have been told I should focus on stewardship throughout the year and preach sermons regularly on the topic in the year. I was taught at seminars that we need to keep people reminded of the responsibility of stewardship every month, not just during the campaign. The last thing I am always reminded as I read through the Bible, Jesus talked about money more than anything else (well maybe love you neighbor is more) in His teaching. Yet, I don’t talk about money.

In my sermons I like to stress how time and talents are just as important a gift to the church and to God as the cash we drop in the plate. Rarely will I call out people to give till it hearts. I will give people opportunities to give extra. But, I tend not to focus on money.

I think I finally came up with an answer for why I don’t talk about money. Recently colleague was being asked questions to join my presbytery (read region of church government). He was asked, “What is the one question you did not want to be asked?” Profound question. He replied with issues of money and being asked to look at his checkbook. He admitted that he is not as trustworthy in Christ as he would like according to his spending. Wow!!! Someone admitted this. The individual is a minister!! There is truth in the world. On Sunday, I figured out in the middle of my stewardship sermon why I don’t like talking about money.

I am not as faithful either. I must admit that my checking account statement would not demonstrate a faith in Christ as much as I wish. I have much to learn still in this world about trusting in Christ. I am willing to give Jesus control over major portions of my life, but I want the reigns in certain areas. I hope my thick skull will one day learn to follow. Till then, I will keep listening. Now I might just be able to preach about money more often. I need a few good sermons on it myself. If I am not preaching to myself, nobody else is listening.