Living a Balanced LifeSample

A Time to Rest and Play

The Bible speaks in a negative way about “idleness” (Proverbs 6:6–11; 1 Timothy 5:13), referring to those who are lazy by such loathsome words as “slothful,” “sluggard,” and “slack hand”—and very positively about labor and work (Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 9; Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:11). Given the admonition that we are to work six days and rest one (Exodus 34:21), we might conclude that the Bible is about all work and no fun. That is far from the truth!

Jesus expected His disciples to “come aside” periodically for rest, and Scripture has repeated references to the benefits of “making merry” (Proverbs 15:13, 15; 17:22; Luke 15:32).

The Bible speaks of more than seventy days a year in which “no customary work” is to be done (Leviticus 23:7, 8): the seven-day feasts that mark Passover, Tabernacles, and Weeks, as well as the Feast of Trumpets, and every Sabbath day! In addition to rest and prayer, leisure days in the Bible are associated with food, gift-giving, singing, and great joy (Revelation 11:10).

A time of rest from work is advocated for those who are experiencing grief (Matthew 14:10–13), those who are seeking spiritual empowerment to do God’s will (Matthew 4:1, 11), those who are entering into an intense period of prayer (Matthew 14:23), and those who are newly married (Deuteronomy 24:5).