Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:21-24, God’s Wisdom Calms Fear

by Marilynn Chadwick

"My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight... When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

Proverbs 3:21-24 NIV

God’s wisdom gives us practical tips on how to live well. His Sabbath command to take a day off each week not only provides rest but it can also decrease our worries. Did you know that in addition to “not working” on the Sabbath, the observant Jew also practices “not worrying?” Seriously. How does one “not worry?” A friend once coined this snappy little acronym: W.O.R.R.Y: “Worry Only Robs Rest from You.”

It’s true. Worry is exhausting. After some honest reflection, I’ve come to realize that worry actually drains my energy way more than work does. Worry (translated as “I really, really care”) seems more logical, even useful. I have plenty of excuses: I have a vivid imagination. I have lots to do. There are so many people I care about. Worry just comes with the territory, right?

I’ve been reflected on the Apostle Paul’s words about worry: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Next, he says to “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Phil 4:6 NLT). Training tips about worry from a guy in prison and in danger of getting killed. But look at the amazing promise that follows:

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 NLT

As believers in Jesus, we’re not obligated to keep Sabbath according to any particular formula or law. But Paul’s method of prayer sounds like a much better use of my energy than worrying. I wonder if turning my “cares into prayers,” in the words of Charles Spurgeon, might be the way to stop this pesky Sabbath thief at the door?

Not worrying on the Sabbath—or any other day for that matter—is new territory. I truly want to learn to walk more solidly in my faith and drive out worry. Perhaps you have a few useful tips for how you deal with worry. Why not talk and share them with a family member or friend. Remember, we’re all in this together. Let’s encourage each other as we learn how to experience a worry-free Sabbath rest.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:9,10 - God’s Wisdom Comes with an Off Switch

by Marilynn Chadwick

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Proverbs 3:9,10 NIV

It’s been said that Americans are the only people who worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship. But according to the Bible, honoring God with the tithe of our finances, our “first fruits,” comes with the promise of material provision. Similarly, taking a day off each week honors God with the “first fruits” of our time. We trust him to multiply our work, even as we rest.

The word Sabbath, or sabat in Hebrew, means “to cease, desist, rest.” Put another way, Sabbath simply means to stop working. The very first use of sabat in the Bible is in the Creation narrative: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2,3 NIV).

Sabbath can be described as taking one day each week to rest from our work. Work six days and rest one, a rhythm which follows God’s pattern as Creator. Work and rest are holy. Both are an example of what it means to be created in the image of God.

Perhaps we can learn a few tips on Sabbath-keeping from observant Jews. Worship, rest, family time, taking a walk, and reading are among the activities considered good Sabbath practices for the faithful Jew. What is not good on the Sabbath can be summed up in three words: work, commerce [shopping and spending], and worry.

When God gave Moses the law, he reminded him of how he brought the Israelites out of slavery. As if to say, “slaves cannot take a day off; only free people can” (Exodus 20:2). Sabbath rest is a weekly testimony against the perpetual grind of a slave’s work. It gives us a picture of who God is and what it means to be created to be in his image. God’s fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” reminds us of Creation. More words are used to explain this one command than any of the other nine (Exodus 20: 8-11).

Sabbath makes space for nurturing our families, our church, and our communities. Sabbath-keeping helps us care for our souls in an age when many are desperately thirsty for peace. Rest from our work is also a theological theme woven throughout the Bible. It describes the liberating life of grace for the believer who has found true rest in Christ’s salvation.

Perhaps St. Augustine could have been hinting at our need for Sabbath rest when he made this famous statement in his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:5,6 - God’s Wisdom Brings Peace

by Marilynn Chadwick

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5,6

Trusting God’s wisdom influences how we work and how we rest. Yesterday, we saw how taking a day off, a Sabbath, is a tangible way of relying on God's provision rather than on our own continuous labor. Plus, it’s simply good for us as humans.

I’ve recently noticed both men and women who are increasingly overwhelmed by their workload, as they balance jobs, caring for families, housework, exercise, and even church. Work hours and stress are up, and sleep and family time are down for all classes of employed Americans, according to recent studies.

The book of Proverbs speaks about the work/rest rhythm ordained by God. As we trust the Lord with every area of life, he promises to make our “paths straight.” How does Sabbath keeping, this once-a-week rest, bring much needed peace to those who embrace it?

I’ve been drawn to Jesus’s promise of rest after observing some very “exhausted souls” lately. Exhaustion can manifest itself as anxiety, depression, illness, or addiction. You may be working harder, running faster, accomplishing more, but who’s watching out for your soul?

Let’s take a moment to reflect on these words from Jesus himself:

“Come to me, all you 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” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Since the time of ancient Israel, Sabbath-keeping has been life-giving for God’s people. I wonder if Sabbath-keeping—in whatever ways we choose to practice it—might help set us free from the weight of unhealthy expectations and lessen the anxieties of fast-paced living?

Sabbath is more than just a ritual or regulation. For Christians, Sabbath is designed by God to be a way of life. “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

Sabbath makes space for nurturing our families, our church, and our communities. Sabbath-keeping also helps us care for our souls in an age when many are thirsty for inner peace. And just maybe it could help us reconnect with God and with one another.