I know that my 2 year old needs his nap time, although he doesn’t share this belief. He needs to rest from all the activity he’s been doing, renew his mind and get his attitude right. He needs a break, time to allow his body to catch up with the busy life of a toddler. If it were his choice, he would never take a nap. He has far better, and more important, things to do than waste time resting.

In Genesis chapter 2, the Bible tells us that God “rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Chapter 20 states, “but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work…” God went beyond instituting a nap time, but instead designated a whole day per week for resting. He knew we would need it. He also knew we wouldn’t take it on our own. We would have far better, and more important, things to do than waste time resting.

Hebrews chapter 4 indicates that this command didn’t go away with the arrival of the New Testament. ”So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

What do you do on your day of “rest”? Mow the lawn? Tackle that laundry pile? Go grocery shopping? Just because we aren’t getting paid to do work doesn’t mean we aren’t still working.