Let us begin by saying, “I am NOT a woman blessed with a math mind.” In fact, I would rather pull a number from the air than calculate to receive the accurate answer. Nevertheless, today, let us look for a moment at the mathematical correlation of our lives and rest. The Bible is clear; it is six to one.

Six days of our week, we are to put our hands to do the work the LORD has given us to do. Therefore, within our entire lifespans, the calculation of six-sevenths of our lives, we are to work as the LORD commanded. For the math-minded individuals, they quickly do the math (in their heads, no doubt), while the rest of us grab out pencil and paper or our calculators and see the accurate answer displayed. We are to work almost 86% (6/7^th) 0.8571428571 of our whole lives and rest almost fifteen percent (1/7^th) 0.1428571429 of our days. Shew. The Math tires me, but it is God’s truth.

WORK & REST: They go hand in hand.

God ordained work; therefore, we ought to see the “good” found in work.

However, God also ordained rest; thus, we ought to see the “goodness” provided by the Father.

And we ought to obey God.

If we peer back and look at the life we have already lived, can we honestly say we have been faithful to obey?  Truthfully, I cannot; maybe, you have not rested as you should either, but thank the LORD, we can seek His forgiveness for our unfaithfulness.  If the LORD allows us to work the rest of this week and the rest of the weeks of our lives, then we can alter our habit to change the way we approach our days.  God’s children are motivated to work BECAUSE God has saved us, and the Sabbath Rest is a gift from God to those who have placed their trust and faith in Christ Jesus. His shed blood covers the multitude of our sin, even the un-keeping of the Sabbath.

Now that I have reached the magical age of sixty, so many ask: When will you retire, and truly, I am not sure when that day will come: the day when I will lay down my chalk, my dry erase marker, my student essays, and literature textbooks. However, what can be known is that even in retirement, our work is not complete, for we can still serve the LORD six days of every week, setting aside the seventh day as the LORD’S Day of rest. We can care for our grandchildren, or we can serve in our church, or we can put our hands to work in the food ministry, or we can teach Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and Bible studies. Work comes to us, even in the third season of our lives.  We have time to volunteer, and if you have ever volunteered, then you know how it is work, but the pay is as rewarding as any paycheck. If we are willing to work, then there is plenty of work to be accomplished, even after we lay aside our life’s work.