What Is Work? | Exodus 20:8-11

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Ex 20:8-11 NIV)

WORK: melakah /mel-ä-KÄ/ Properly, deputyship, ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstract or concrete); also property (as the result of labor)

The biblical use of this work involves ones occupation and business:

• Occupation, business
• Property
• Work (something done or made)
• Workmanship
• Service, use
• Public business: political, religious

My takeaway:

"Work" is not only "effort" and "action". Work requires effort and action, but so does recreation and enjoyment. On the other hand, work may be enjoyable, but it may also be not very enjoyable."Rest" does not necessarily mean "inaction" or "lack of effort".

"Work" in the context of occupation or business is better thought of as being effort and action for the purpose of future sustenance: protection, improvement, gain of wealth or property or esteem. "Work" is primarily effort made to provide for tomorrow's needs. It may be in service of other or oneself, but ultimately it is "providing for tomorrow's needs."

This is clearly seen in the reference to Creation. The work of creation was not necessarily difficult, strenuous or tiring for God...more likely it was effortless: produced by his word alone! But, it was work on our behalf, for our future. The "heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" was intended for the use of his people, the people he created for his own pleasure. He rested, not because it had been strenuous. He rested, not because he was weary or muscle sore. He rested, because the work was perfect: completed in its entirety, wholly according to all that he desired and decreed.

The completion of a perfect work is holy, because only God can do such a work!

To glorify himself in our eyes, he commanded his people to remember his perfect work by keeping one day a week as holy: a day of rest from all effort and strength spent upon providing for tomorrow's earthly needs, because our future heavenly needs are completely and perfectly provided now for us. "Now is the day of salvation!".

So, keeping the Sabbath day holy does necessarily mean sitting all day, expending no energy, making little or no movement! No, resting from our earthly work for a day means relying completely upon what God has provided for us already. After working hard for our food and shelter during the week, the one day of not working hard reminds us of the perfect work of God in Creation, and he is glorified in our eyes.

Examples of a ways to keep the Sabbath holy:

• Avoid buying or selling on the Sabbath day.
• Avoid requiring others to buy or sell on the Sabbath day.
• Pray for God's mercy and grace on behalf of those who are required to work for our protection and support on the Sabbath day.

Most importantly, enjoy things God provides: his holy words of Scripture, the Holy Bible; his creation of animals, vegetation and the natural beauty of the world; family and friendship; strength to play and exercise the body he created; mental ability to read, write and watch true things about God; gathering with others to worship and pray and remember God's Son Jesus Christ.

Photo by Sherman Yang on Unsplash