It so happens as the Lord had planned it that the launch of http://talkofJesus.com -+- CHRISTIAN SOCIAL WITNESS coincides with the American holiday: Labor Day. We will have picnics, parades and some much-needed family time. No school. Post offices, banks and many not-so-greedy businesses closed to give their employees a rest from their labor – something all of us need at times.
A prior post began with this same thought. It is about Sabbath rest – a related, but different reference to the word of God in the Bible. We’ve likely heard the expression:
‘NO rest for the wicked and the good don’t need any.’
NOT true; NOT Biblical.
We ALL need rest and we all need work.
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American’s inherited this Labor Day idea of rest though the long-standing culture of the King James Bibles so much apart of our Christian heritage. The original call for rest comes from Jesus.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
At one time Americans realized the importance to honor God through our labor and to honor labors as God’s own workers. Sadly, in a 21st c. America (or Europe, Asia or any other place) we don’t get that, do we? (Jesus tells us why – which I will reveal in a moment.) The world has two approaches to labor:
Work hard for your SELF. (More work, more reward: right?) God doesn’t really need that “offering AND tithe” to honor Him — after all, the Government gets plenty of our required monetary support. Our Country will take care of us.
OR
I don’t need to labor because Uncle Sam* takes care of me and will always help me.
* ‘Americanized’ personalization of our impersonal ‘representative’ Government.
God never intended for ANY to have a rest from the work they will NOT do. (We won’t go there today. That’s a different scripture.)
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Getting back to talk of Jesus:
The crowds had flocked to hear Jesus on the hillsides of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Jesus traveled from city to city on His northern tour. Everywhere Jesus traveled, He was expected.
Matthew 11: When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Imagine the excitement of the promised Messiah of God coming to your city. Jesus was predicted by the Prophets. Jesus was proclaimed by the greatest prophet their contemporary, John the Baptist.
John was a ‘hell-fire and damnation’ kind of preacher: popular with the people, but imprisoned by the religious establishment.
REPENT! And be baptized (changed permanently). Cleanse your sins before you must stand before the HOLY ONE.
Yet our Lord is also calling the people of the cities to hear Him and obey.
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
Jesus? … Preaching ‘hell-fire and damnation’ like John?
Read what He said comparing the disobedient to the people of Sodom.
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will…
28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
What is Jesus saying about our labor?
Jesus is illustrating a picture of manual labor. He doesn’t say to just give it all to Him and He will take care of it. (I’m not saying this about prayer. We are talking ‘labor’ here.)
- Take my yoke upon you a picture of the collar of two doing the work of one.
- learn from me – a direct reference to learning from the example of His life.
- I am gentle and lowly in heart [Jesus is kind and humble. Have you learned this from His Perfect Example?]
and [IF you will do this, according to our Lord]
- you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus didn’t say ‘Take a break and I will do it all for you.”
Jesus actually called out the people who refuse to repent and listen to Him for their wickedness.
Our Lord knows how weary we become in this world.
Do we remember: disobedience was punished in Eden. Unpleasant work became part of our sinful heritage for having knowledge of good and evil.
Jesus offers to share in our work in this world.
Will you work with Him on that?
Though we are wicked sinners
Because of the Cross of Jesus
Weary laborers have hope.
Come unto Him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
