Devotionals by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. (Mark 6:30–32)

Strangely, the one thing we need is often the last thing we consider. We’ve been programmed to think that fatigue is next to godliness. That the more exhausted we are (and look!), the more committed we are to spiritual things and the more we earn God’s smile of approval. We bury all thoughts of enjoying life . . . for those who are genuinely dedicated Christians are those who work, work, work. And, preferably, with great intensity. As a result, we have become a generation of people who worship our work . . . who work at our play . . . and who play at our worship.

Hold it! Who wrote that rule? Why have we bought that philosophy? Whatever possessed someone to make such a statement? How did we ever get caught in that maddening undertow?

I challenge you to support it from the Scriptures. Start with the life (and lifestyle) of Jesus Christ and try to find a trace of corroborating evidence that He embraced that theory. Some will be surprised to know that there is not one reference in the entire New Testament saying (or even implying) that Jesus intensely worked and labored in an occupation to the point of emotional exhaustion.

No, but there are several times when we are told He deliberately took a break. He got away from the demands of the public and enjoyed periods of relaxation with His disciples. I’m not saying He rambled through His ministry in an aimless, halfhearted fashion. Not at all! But neither did He come anywhere near an ulcer. Never once do we find Him in a frenzy.

According to Mark, Jesus purposely sought relief from the hurried pace of ministering to others and advised His apostles to do the same. His was a life of beautiful balance. He accomplished everything the Father sent Him to do. Everything. And He did it without ignoring the essential times of restful leisure. If that is the way He lived, then it makes good sense that that is the way we, too, must learn to live. If you have formed the habit of overwork and you haven’t cultivated the ability to take a break and relax, these things may appear difficult to you, but they are not impossible.

Taken from Strengthening Your Grip by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2015 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. 

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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