It’s counter-intuitive. Slow down to get more done. Why is it counter-intuitive? Because most of us believe that if we work longer hours, work harder, we’ll accomplish more.
Do you know what studies have shown? When computer programmers start working more and more hours, they start making more and more mistakes.
When guys and gals who do physical labor work longer and longer hours, their productivity diminishes–they become fatigued.
When creative people burn the “midnight oil,” when they don’t get enough rest, their creativity diminshes.
When I was in Junior High I remember reading an article about how the work week of the future was going to change. With all of the new time saving gadgets, computers, cell phones, microwaves . . . we wouldn’t need to work five days a week anymore. Soon, we would have three day weekends.
Well, I have many of those new “time savers.” I have a laptop computer. So now I don’t have to work just at the office, I can also work at home. I can even work on vacation! I have an Ipod so I can listen to podcasts while I walk in the park. I have a cellular phone so that I can make important phone calls while I drive–so I can be more accessible to people. I have a new “Q” that enables me to access the world wibe web so that I can check my e-mail at anytime, anywhere in the country! Isn’t life great!!!
In Genesis 2 we discover the Sabbath principle. So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
Why did God stop working on the seventh day? Was it because God was tired? Was it because God ran out of creative capacity? I don’t think so. God took time off to set an example for you and for me.
Later on in the Bible, do you know what the punishment was for someone who did not keep the Sabbath? Death. DEATH!
Now, today we don’t live under the law, but if we go too long without keeping the Sabbath, what happens? We die. Sometimes it may be physical death. Other times it may be the death of our marriage. Or the death of our relationship with our kids . . .
Isaiah 30:15 says, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
Counter-intuitive isn’t it? We would like to say, “In repentance and hard work is you salvation, productivity is your strength.”
But that’s not it. You slow down to get more done. Because when you put rest in your life, your creative energies are rejuvenated. When you slow down you have time for reflection. When you slow down you spend more time with God. You live the life God designed for you to live, which will always be the best.
Slow down to get more done.
I have a few friends that get on to me about work. They always say I need to charge more for playing weddings, I need to work another day to bring in new music students, yadda, yadda, yadda. I’m going to brag here: at my most recent doctor visit, my blood pressure was 106/90…the nurse asked me what my secret was. I don’t wanna give that up for nothin’! }:}~
Every time my friends tell me I need to work more, charge more, whatever, I always respond, “You must have me mistaken for someone who cares about money.” I think most people who slave away at work are doing it for money…always looking for the BBD (bigger, better, deal). I like what Paul said: “I have learned to be content.”
We never had much money when I was growing up, so I can’t miss what I’ve never had. My family lives very comfortably now on our incomes, but more importantly, we’re still a family. My daughter has never been to day care, she knows all about Jesus, and my husband doesn’t have to make an appointment to get my attention. We’ve got “toys”, and we’re not hurting for anything, so that’s good enough.
We’re farmers in the summer, which supplements our income (we make hay), but it’s not something we HAVE to do. We do it because we think it’s fun, but we also do it as a family. We take turns driving the tractor and stacking the wagon (no kicker on the baler). Even my little girl comes out to the fields with us every time we go. She’ll cry if we try to take her to grandma’s.
I’ve said before that I’m kind of a recluse, but that’s because I like to be at home…there’s no better place in the world I’d rather be! Home is where my earthly heart is. I like it here!