Text:        MARK 2:27, MARK 6:31 & EXODUS 20:8-10

By:           Afekolu, Chris (Bishop)

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PREAMBLE: We live in a world where we feel pressured to work nonstop, which has led many to burn out. Followers of Jesus are not exempted. Constant busyness in ministry often hides behind religious zeal seeking to justify the tiredness—but results in exhaustion. Some well-meaning Christians says, “The devil never takes a day off, so neither can we.” But what if that is one of the reasons the devil is the devil? Also. some often say that “the world (or even the church) is run by tired people, and we can rest when we get to heaven.” But what if this lack of rest is a key reason the world (and sometimes the church) is  such a challenge.

• There is a phrase that says, “Busy is an acronym for Being Under Satan’s Yoke.”
• If asked to describe ourselves, chances are that the first thing we will say is about our job. For many of us what we do is who we are.
• The 1980s was when the word “workaholic” was considered a virtue. The self-made Entrepreneurs, use constant, relentless hard work or effort put in to achieve a goal. It implies pushing through tiring, repetitive, or difficult tasks to succeed. And now we hear “hustle” which has gained traction.
• The damaging effects of the Hustle Culture cannot be over emphasized. In short, Hustle Culture is rooted in the narrative introduced by sin.

• This narrative says work is life, taking the place of pleasure with productivity as a sign of worth. And success is seen as a god that we must suffer to serve.

• Anyone who does not abide by this lifestyle is classified as weak, unable to keep up with the dominant pace in sociological survival of the fittest.

• In a culture that weaponizes overwork, the Sabbath is a radical act of defiance or disobedience or non-cooperation.
• It is a deliberate refusal to measure your human worth by your productivity.
• Reclaiming rest requires intentional boundaries to heal the mind, body, and soul from chronic burnout {lingering… stress, tension, weariness, exhaustion or breakdown.}

SABBATH REST – A divine commitment

In Genesis 2:2, God created the Sabbath day and said it was “very good.” Exodus 20:8-11 and other verses speak to God making the Sabbath holy, with no labor being done by you or anyone within your sphere. Throughout Christ’s ministry on earth, we are given consistent examples of Jesus observing the Sabbath and taking regular rest.

For those who believe their worth is dependent on what they produce, the Sabbath’s  identity as a day of rest is a threat. Sabbath reminds us that our worth and value are not in our work but in our identity in God. It is redefining the foundation of our pursuits.

When Adam and Eve were created, the first thing they did was observe the Sabbath. This was before the fall of man, before work that drains and saps life of hustlers, before back-to-back zoom calls and  meetings, endless chat on social media, and before stressful economies or before Tinubu-economic  whahala.  The story of Biblical Sabbath rest does not begin with the Ten Commandments—it  starts on the very first pages of Scripture. In Genesis 2, we read that God created for six days, and on the seventh day, He rested from all His work.

 Here’s   what’s   fascinating:  God created humanity on day six,  which means day seven for God was ‘actually’ day one for mankind.

• While God gave Adam and Eve instructions about caring for the garden and being fruitful, on their very first full day of existence, God didn’t put a shovel in their hands. Instead, He said, “I want you to spend a day with me.” Rest was not a reward for their work—it was the foundation of their life. It was the gift of presence, the gift of relationship, the gift of enjoyment with an abundant and loving God.
• God established rhythms from the very beginning: ocean tides, changing seasons, the lunar calendar. But He also created a rhythm of six days of work and one day of rest—a 24-hour period designed to be different from the other six, set apart for stopping, resting, delighting, and worshiping.

We tend to view Sabbath as a post-fall  response to a sinful world; however, it being the first activity Adam and Eve experienced  on earth. By Adam and Eve’s  first full day being the Sabbath, God was setting the precedent for their lives. The need for rest and reconnection to Him.

Sin reverses our identity and desires on a DNA level. Hustle Culture is a reversal of our intended identity and our attitude toward work and rest. Success has become a god in modern culture: we sacrifice for it, place our identity on it, and neglect basic wellness in pursuit of it.

Leviticus 23:3 reminds us, the Sabbath is a day of “sacred assembly,” highlighting a healthy community. It also reminds us of hard work, though infinitely valuable, does not discern our worth.

• Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently modelled intentional withdrawal to be alone with His Father. For example, Mark 1:35 recounts how “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
• Similarly, after times of intensive ministry, Luke 5:16 describes how “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus knew deeply the necessity of regular rest and communion with God to sustain His ministry and remain attuned to His Father’s heart.

Sabbath is not a passive concept. Even when Jesus withdrew from the people to pray, he did it in the middle of healing, teaching, and organizing a massive community outreach. He rested not only for himself but for his people. He rested for the resistance or strength to fight on (Mark 6:31).

Dallas Willard strongly underscores this rhythm: “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Sabbath rest actively combats the cultural idol of busyness, creating space for spiritual clarity, intimacy, and genuine restoration.

Henri Nouwen expands on  this,  emphasizing that Sabbath is foundational for spiritual identity. He notes, “In solitude, we come to know ourselves as deeply loved and cared for.” Through intentional rest, we reconnect with our core identity as beloved children of God.

SABBATH – THE BLESSED ANTIDOTE TO BUSYNESS AND BURNOUT

The struggle to rest in a burnt-out culture stem from deeply rooted beliefs that we must continuously hustle irrespective of our disposition or status.

Overcoming this requires reframing how you view your time, your limits, and your purpose:

Shift Your Mindset: Rest is Not a Reward

• Dismantle Hustle Culture: Recognize that your identity and value are inherent or natural, not earned through endless output or the optimization of your time.
• Acknowledge Limits: Accepting that the world will keep spinning when you pause is an act of faith and a surrender of the illusion that you must hold everything together.
• Embrace Trust: The practice of Sabbath teaches us to trust that God provides for our needs, even when we are not actively striving.

Practice Holy Defiance: Reclaim Your Time

• Stop working or Stop Revenue-Producing Activities: Set aside a non- negotiable window (like 24 hours) where you completely abstain from the work that pays your bills. Take a break from your job, errands, and all commercial transactions.
• Disengage from “Invisible Labor”: True Sabbath includes ceasing the endless tasks that make you feel artificially productive—such as cleaning, deep-planning, and organizing. Prepare in advance: Cook meals and do your cleaning the day before so you are completely free from household labour.
• Unplugging from screens: To truly disconnect, put your devices away and experience the moment free from digital distractions. Put your phone away or turn off work emails to prevent mental exhaustion.

Replenish Your Mind and Spirit

• Attend worship and fellowship: Gather with your brethren, read Scripture, and pray.
• In excising the sabbath rest we recalibrate our attention and affections upon the one who is seated upon the throne of heaven and upon our hearts. We surrender our past week as we anticipate the coming week. However, it is crucial to note that we do not practice Sabbath ‘as a way to’ reward ourselves for a hard week of work, and to then reboot for another hard week of work. Instead, we Sabbath to resist the idol of productivity and to check our hearts so that we are not worshipping our work, but rather worshipping God in our work.
• Embrace Stillness: Practice meditation, journaling, or quiet contemplation.

Customize Your Sabbath: Three Pillars of True Rest

• Physical Rest: Withdraw from physically demanding tasks, sleep, nap, and allow your nervous system to regulate.
• Delight: Engage in activities that actively recharge your heart, soul, and mind. This looks different for everyone, it could mean walking in nature, cooking a slow meal, reading a book, or enjoying a hobby without guilt.
• Reflection & Connection: Create space to simply “be.” Ground yourself in your faith, connect with community, and reflect on the week with gratitude. Connect with loved ones. Share a special meal, play board games, or have meaningful conversations with family and friends.

SHOULD   CHRISTIANS   STILL  OBSERVE  THE  SABBATH?

Christians are divided on whether keeping the Sabbath is a binding commandment.  Most Christians believe the Old Testament Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ and is no longer required. However, some denominations  and Messianic believers continue to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Differing Christian perspectives on Sabbath observance includes –

(i)  Not Required (Grace and Liberty): Many Christians believe the Sabbath was part of the Old Testament law that was fulfilled by Jesus. Passages like Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5 indicate that believers are not bound to specific holy days and have the freedom to treat all days alike or set aside a day for the Lord.

(ii)      A         Moral Obligation (Sabbatarianism): Many            Protestant and Reformed traditions believe the moral principle of the Sabbath remains binding. Rather than the Saturday Sabbath, they emphasize setting aside the first day of the week (Sunday, the “Lord’s Day”) to  rest,  worship, and fellowship in honor of Christ’s resurrection. Groups like Seventh-day Adventists and Seventh Day Baptists believe the original seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) is an eternal creation ordinance and commandment that Christians should still  observe.    The New Testament consensus and necessary influence or reference is that observing a day of rest and worship should be a blessing rather than a legalistic burden.

WHY SABBATH STILL MATTERS FOR CHRISTIANS  TODAY

Rest Is Found in a Person, Not Practice.

• In Luke 6, Jesus confronted the Pharisees who had turned God’s gift of Sabbath into a burden of legalistic rules. When His disciples picked grain on the Sabbath and when He healed a man’s withered hand, the religious leaders accused Him of breaking the law. Jesus’ response was revolutionary: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
• Jesus was not just claiming authority over Sabbath rules—He was declaring that He IS the Sabbath.
• True Sabbath rest is found in relationship with Him, not in perfectly following practices. When we walk with         Jesus, we discover that Sabbath is not about performance; it’s about presence.
• The disciples were hungry, and Jesus fed them. The man had a withered hand, and Jesus healed him. In both cases, Jesus demonstrated that Sabbath is about human   flourishing,  not  religious  control.  It’s  about acknowledging and celebrating that God is God, and we are not.
• We have limits, we have needs and we need rest. That rest isn’t limited to just a Sabbath day, but it’s also regular times throughout the week to connect with and rest in God. “The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14, NIV. “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29, NLT.

• Admitting we have needs and that one of those needs is rest, is humbling. We want to think we can do it all. We want to help others, be the hero. We do not want to be the one in need.

A lack of rest is often a sign we think too highly of ourselves. That’s Scary, but true. “When we miss the gift of rest, especially Sabbath rest, we miss so much of God,” said Pete Scazzero, author of  “Emotionally  Healthy Spirituality.” Just look at Genesis. If God — who spoke the world into being — decided to take an entire day to rest at the end of it, what makes us think that we don’t also need a break?

CONCLUSION

“What  kills  a  soul? Exhaustion, secret keeping, image management. And what brings a soul back from the dead? Honesty, connection, grace,” wrote Shauna Niequist, author of “Present Over Perfect.”

God designed one entire day a week for us where we do not work. A whole day set aside for both physical rest and rest for our souls. Rest is our time to connect with Him.

Taking a Sabbath is not some weird religious rule or burden God is using to test us. This command is a gift from the One who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how we are wired and thus prescribed one entire day a week for us where we do not work.

“Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27, NIV. Choosing rest means choosing trust. Trust that God will provide for your needs. He will take care of the thing that you think has to get done right now. Resting is giving up control, admitting we have limits and taking God at His word.

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