REST
MEMORY VERSE: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2).
INTRODUCTION:- Only what comes from God and has His blessing is truly valuable in life. On the other hand, if God is not the top priority in our lives, activities, goals and families, then our efforts are in vain and will end in frustration, disappointment and wasted efforts and time. For this reason, we should seek God’s purposes and guidance in all things from the start.
LESSON OUTLINES
Living a Life Without Worry
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows.” This is because the LORD is mainly to be rested in; all anxious care is mere vanity and vexation of spirit. We are bound to be diligent, for this the Lord blesses; we ought not to be anxious, for that dishonours God and can never secure His favour. Some deny themselves needful rest: the morning sees them rise before they are rested, the evening sees them toiling long after the curfew has tolled the knell of parting day. They threaten to bring themselves into the sleep of death by neglect of the sleep which refreshes life. Nor is their sleeplessness the only index of their daily fret; they stint themselves in their meals, they eat the commonest food (junks), and the smallest possible quantity of it, and what they do swallow is washed down with the salt tears, but perpetually smeared with sorrow: and all because they have no faith in God, and find no joy except in hoarding up the gold which is their only trust.
This is not the way the Lord would have His children live. He would have them, as princes of the blood, lead a happy and restful life. Let them take a fair measure of rest and due portion of food, for it is for their health. Of course the true believer will never be lazy or extravagant: if he should be he will have to suffer for it; but he will not think it needful or right to be worried and miserly.
Faith brings calm with it, and banishes disturbers who both by day and by night murder peace. Unless our efforts are aimed at fulfilling God’s plans in God’s way, the results will ultimately be meaningless. We must make sure that our plans are from God and that we are following His directions in life. That means allowing His Spirit to guide us, rather than depending on our own ideas, plans and efforts (Ex. 25:9,40;Acts 7:44). Do we believe that God is big enough to provide for us even after we rest and acknowledge our physical limitations? Sleep is a physical humility, an acknowledgment that all our efforts will fall short unless God blesses them.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
It is God’s intention that we enjoy peaceful sleep and lives free from troubling anxiety and worry (Matt. 6:25-34; Phil. 4:6). God also watches over us and keeps on giving into our lives even when we are resting (Heb. 13:5).
QUESTIONS
True/False: Christians are not expected to struggle in life? Worry and anxiety is a sign of what?