The Sabbath Was Made for You…To Do What?
Previously published in December 2004
“I can’t go swimming on Sabbath?” I distinctly remember the moment when I first encountered the “restrictions” of the Sabbath. It was one of those sweltering, skin-sticks-to-your-shirt, open-the-refrigerator-for-cold-air kinds of Sabbaths, and my mind had become solely transfixed upon the thought of splashing around in my friend’s swimming pool. Said differently, it was a perfect way to spend the Sabbath afternoon—so I thought. “But why can’t I go swimming?” I whined miserably to my grandparents. “Sabbath is a day of rest,” they gently responded. “You can go swimming tomorrow.” Many years later, I can understand my grandparents’ well-meaning response. However, I was too young to understand their rationale in its completion. Yes, God directed us to rest on the Sabbath, but He didn’t stop there.
Why, exactly, did God make the Sabbath? For one, the Sabbath serves as a remembrance of His creation—nature, you, me—the universe. In Genesis 1:31, we read God’s reaction to creation: “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Ellen White writes that the Sabbath, functioning as a “memorial of the work of His creation,” is a sign of God’s love and power. In effect, “the Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator” (281 DA). In other words, the Sabbath is a symbol of the love God has for you and me, His favorite creations.
Equally important, the Sabbath is a representation of the connection we have with God as believers; it serves as a sign between man and God. White writes, “No other institution which was committed to the Jews tended so fully to distinguish them from surrounding nations as did the Sabbath. God designed that its observance should designate them as His worshipers. It was to be a token of their separation from idolatry, and their connection with the true God” (283). Said differently, the Sabbath serves as a testament to the relationship we have with God.
Clearly, it is this connection that provides as a driving force to further God’s work. Jesus did not hesitate to heal the sick and minister to their needs on Sabbath. Take the case of the man with the withered hand. The Pharisees were watching with critical scrutiny, waiting to see what Jesus would do when He saw the man. In Mark 3:1-5, we are drawn into the scene between the man and Jesus: “And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." Then He said to the Pharisees, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” By Christ’s example, we get a glimpse of what He meant when He said, “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:12). The Sabbath is a time for us to do good to others, especially to those who cannot repay us.
But how do these principles become readily applicable to contemporary life? Perhaps a few of the suggestions listed below will trigger additional ideas of how to make the Sabbath more meaningful.
Sabbath in God’s Creation
1.Hold Friday night vespers by the beach to start the Sabbath off with serenity that may encompass the week. If this is not geographically convenient for you, start a small group in someone’s patio. Get a group of your friends and plan a vespers outdoors. Bring your guitars and voices.
2.Go camping to surround yourself in nature. Make it a church activity or make it more of a personal get together with close friends.
3.Get a group of people and start a Christian book club. After selecting a book, your book club could meet every week at a park or nature spot to discuss what meaning the book has held.
4.Have “Canoe church” for a unique worship setting in nature. Get a group of your friends or a church and meet in the middle of the lake. Instead of pews, you sit in canoes, and instead of walls, you have the expanse of nature about you.
5.Gather a group of your friends and head to the nearest grove or open field to sing praise songs.
6.Write poetry. Let nature influence the words that come to mind.
7.Take your kids or a group of kids kite-flying.
8.Take your dogs to the park. If you do not own any pets, offer to dog-sit for a friend for a Sabbath afternoon.
Connecting to God through People
1.Have a “Family Friday Feast”—make Friday nights special for your family. Instead of going out to eat on Friday nights, try making dinner with a group of church friends. A potluck style dinner followed by Bible study or a worship thought works well.
2.Have “Friends’ Friday Feast”—get together at a friend’s house instead of going out to eat. Have a potluck-style dinner followed by Bible study.
3.Write cards of encouragement to friends or family members. Snail mail has a way of generating personal warmth.
4.Go for a walk with someone close to you. Catch up with someone that you have been too busy for.
Doing Good on the Sabbath
1.Random acts of kindness—get a group of friends and do random acts of kindness for acquaintances, friends and strangers.
2.Visit a children’s hospital and read to the kids.
3.Read to your own children—spend a Sabbath afternoon reading Bible stories or other books that exemplify God’s love.
4.Uplift others. When you find yourself talking negatively about someone, stop yourself. Edify the person you are speaking of.
5.Spread warmth, not gossip. When you find yourself tempted to “spread the news,” bite your tongue.
My grandparents were right: God does want us to rest on the Sabbath. God tells us Himself in Leviticus 23:3, “'Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” However, the meaning of the Sabbath goes beyond just resting. He wants us to rest by enjoying and savoring the Sabbath to its fullest. After all, He made the Sabbath for you.