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Remember the sabbath day; and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work - you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. (Exodus 20:8-11 NRSV).

Several things struck me as I read this passage recently.

1. Sometimes we can do more with less. By being obedient to God in giving our time, our talent, or our tithe, we are often left with less. But the principle God's people have proved time and again is this: Give to God first. God will make up the difference. How does that work? I can't explain except to say....He makes it work.

2. Our obedience or disobedience of this command affects others. Our spouse, children, and people in the community are are either encouraged or discouraged from following this pattern by what we do.

3. This commandment is given just after a whole story has played out of what happens when we do not do things God's way. (Remember Pharaoh? Remember Egypt? Remember the decimation he brought upon his land, his people, his family, and eventually himself by refusing to do what God had commanded?) Our refusal to recognize God's design for life comes with consequences just as surely as Pharaoh's did. Is it possible that the stress and strain of time, finances, physical sickness, and toll this all takes on our relationships might be lessened if we would simply obey this command?

4. Sabbath is a reminder that the world can go on without me. Small business owners and workaholics know the temptation to forget this. But God's command offers me the grace to be reminded this doesn't all revolve around me. The world was here before I showed up and, Lord willing, it will be here after I leave.

5. I am not in the struggle alone. I've recently had several friends share the way the battle for sabbath time has been playing out for their family. Some have given in. Some have stood up and fought. Others have looked for creative, middle-of-the-road solutions. There may not be a "one-size-fits-all" way to answer it. But I am sure God did not give us this command to be ignored.

If this is an area you or your family are dealing with right now, why not take a moment and ask God for help. I'm sure God is as interested in delivering you and yours as He was the whole nation of Hebrew slaves. And I'm convinced he is able to do it too!!

Grace & peace