We business-minded Americans usually consider efficiency to be a virtue. All sorts of self-help books give us tips on how to wring the most productivity out of every dollar and every minute. In contrast, the Law of Moses calls us to love God and to love others – and sometimes that love requires us to put efficiency aside, to rest instead of work.

Now, God’s Old Testament people were supposed to express such love by giving their fields a rest every seventh year. This would not only allow the natural productivity of the land to be restored. Whatever plants grew by themselves were for everyone to gather – even the animals were to be allowed to graze and browse at will. During the sabbath year, rich and poor alike were called to a radical trust and dependence on God to provide for them.

So, how can we express the same sort of trust in God in our modern work and life? Well, verse 12 gives us a clue: as we cease from our work for one day a week, we not only make the statement that God will make ample provision for us during the rest of the week. As we spend time in worship and prayer and fellowship instead of working or shopping or dining out, we give the store clerks and cooks and waiters and everyone else who works for us a day off as well.

But what if we refuse to rest, and to let others rest in this way? Aren’t we really insisting that our own unflagging effort is necessary for us to survive? And isn’t that denying God’s willingness or ability to take care of us? And if we depend solely on our own efforts, aren’t we really worshipping the god of self, or the god of productivity?

So, this week, let’s not even mention the names of such false gods. Let’s work as hard as we can the rest of the week so we can really take a day off to worship God and to be with God’s people. What better way could there be to demonstrate our love for everyone?

Exodus 23:10-13 (NASB)

10 “And you shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield,
11 but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
12 “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor in order that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.
13 “Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.