Yoked to the Master
Reflection
In about a week, we will celebrate Labor Day. This national holiday observed on the first Monday in September recognizes workers’ contributions to society. Its beginnings were rooted in efforts by labor activists early in the nineteenth century. Labor Day creates a respite, a break from the routine, and for a moment provides the opportunity to consider those whose labor impacts us. I sometimes wonder if we have lost sight of its origin and purpose with end-of-summer barbecues and furniture sales, which ironically require workers to labor. I ask you to consider what your thoughts are about labor and rest.
People tend to fall into one of two camps: obsessing over work or perpetually planning or awaiting the arrival of the next break from work. Those working themselves to the bone may do so to seek the pursuit of money and success or to fill some hole in their world. Others, however, live in an “I deserve a break mentality” and can get caught up living to rest - sleeping in, PJs all day, bingeing favorite shows, and planning the next getaway excursion.
Application
If a Google search is trustworthy, the Bible mentions the word work or toil 480 times. Proverbs is full of verses admonishing lazy hands and cites the folly and consequences of lack of diligence. As followers of Christ, scripture also charges us to work wholeheartedly as unto the Lord (Colossians 3: 23-24), which means living out our God-given calling in our day-to-day work and our spiritual disciplines. Paul writes to the church in Colossae,
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10)
Christians are called to work and to find satisfaction in it (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). At the same time, rest is mentioned 275 times in scripture. Interestingly, rest in the Bible has little to do with finishing projects, taking naps, grilled burgers, or 20% off sales. Biblical rest, not the antithesis of work, is about reliance on our relationship with Christ.
Consider the passage of scripture in Matthew 11:28-30,
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ recognizes the weariness and burdens we carry, but He doesn’t say dig in and just work harder, even though we might choose this ineffective response. The Lord calls us to come to Him, and like two oxen in a field, be yoked by Him and learn from Him so that we can find rest for our souls. The oxen’s work is productive and the fields are plowed straight due to the guidance of the yoke placed on them by the farmer. This beautiful passage encourages us as workers to come to Him, to trust His guidance, to learn from Him, and to stay close to Him. This reliance results in rest.
A reciprocal relationship between work and rest is formed when we have a biblical vision of these two words. The more we rest in God - trusting Him, looking to Him for guidance, the more depth and delight we can have for the day-to-day travails and the work that he has called us to do for His kingdom. But if we choose to rely on ourselves and our strengths - even our gifts originating from God, we can lose our way and our work becomes the result of human effort rather than God-driven. And we become weary.
One version of Psalm 46:10 reads, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Though I memorized the version that says, “Be still and know that I am God,” the phrase “cease striving” creates a strong imperative. Stop trying to do it on my own. Stop striving for whatever seems to be the goal at that moment. Instead, rest. Realize and trust that He is God. The comfort that this brings provides real rest that endures and sustains the work.
So this Labor Day, when you wake without an alarm and before you head out for the 20% off sales, spend some time in reflection and prayer. How do you view work and rest? How might you take His yoke upon you, trust and rely on His guidance and direction, and have true rest for your soul? His yoke is easy and His burden is light - why? Because when we are yoked to the Master, He directs us and sustains us in work. He provides us with rest - not a nap, but comfort for our souls.
Maryellen Berry