Summer is often vacation time for people. Families plan trips, taking time away from their normal routines and work schedules. Vacations are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with family, make memories and to consider life.
Vacation as a term was first used in the late 14th century. It is from a French word that means, ‘to be empty, free, or at leisure’. The word might be relatively new but the idea of down time or leisure is not a new idea.
God specifically told the Jewish people, early on, that they were to have a Sabbath.
This is what the LORD commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the LORD. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow. (Exodus 16:23 NLT)
Sabbath, taking time away, being free or at leisure, was so important to God that there were penalties prescribed by God for people who did not obey. The penalties were not minor either. They were severe. It was God’s way of shoe-horning the people into having down time. People by nature work and worry and endlessly pursue ‘self-provision.’ This leads to working endlessly.
Jesus said:
I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. … Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27 NLT)
Not only were the people of God instructed, with consequences for disobedience, to take a day a week off, they were also to take a week a year off to celebrate and give thanks. Their land was to be given a ‘Sabbath year of rest’ every seven years. No farming of the land was permitted every seventh year.
God didn’t instruct people to take days off and weeks off for His good or for the good of others. (The Sabbath year for the land is good for creations.) He instructs people to take days off and weeks off because it is good for people. It is good for them physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and relationally. It may not be financially a great idea, but what did Jesus say about that?
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