This winter, I’m going to slow down and finish some of those projects. We’ve all heard or made similar declarations. The busy summer work is over. The can shelves are loaded, and the crops are in the barn. Surely, now is the time to kick back, slow down, tinker around the house or shop. Yet it seems that every year, though the rest of nature slows down, humans keep right on going at their maddening pace. This year, it will be different. I hope to slow down after Thanksgiving. But then, there is Youth Bible School, and right after that is Christmas. Sigh. . .
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Perhaps we are going to the wrong place to find rest. In the article, The Creeping Danger of Materialism, the writer talks about how we often lack simple contentment; “The happy and grateful Christian (who is seeking to live for the Lord) will be a satisfied person. . . Contentment does not come from having all our wants supplied; it comes from reducing our desires to include only the essentials of life.”
So, how do we rest and rejuvenate this autumn and winter? Several things stand out in the Scripture where Jesus told His disciples to “come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.” First, it was a desert place. There was not much activity. They were away from the hustle and bustle of the world, deadlines to meet, and people to greet. Secondly, Jesus and His disciples went off alone (though it seems the crowds followed Him) to rest a while. If we can pull back and focus on our family or small inner circle, it will give our minds time to rest and focus on what is important. Thirdly, Jesus went alone into the mountain to pray. True rest happens when we take time off to pray and connect spiritually with the Lord. True rest comes when we find rest for our bodies and our souls.
Sometimes I find it a challenge to steward my time wisely. Prioritizing family time, ministry requirements, and work responsibilities becomes a constant tug of war. In the article, The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward, we are reminded that everything we have has been given to us by the Lord. “Remember, you are the steward of my possessions, and I will hold you accountable for your stewardship.” Let us use our time wisely for the glory of the Lord.
Edward Martin
