I've always been amazed at the Old Testament commandment to refrain from work on one day of the week. Why was a commandment for a day off necessary? It seems almost silly to require people to take a day off, even if they don't want to.
Today's world makes it much harder to take time off, to contemplate, to make the day holy. Even Sundays have lost their meaning. Malls keep opening later and later, and some stores refuse to even acknowledge the day. And after coming home on a Sunday, one is too easily bombarded by an informational overload from all types of LCD's coming from the family room, the bedroom, and our pockets. The peaceful and contemplative Sabbath is quickly disappearing.
And so we regress. In the Old era, God had to force His people to stop working so that they remember that day and to keep it holy, for Himself. In the New era, God tells them to be more concerned with the meaning and purpose and not just the ritual. Today, we forget both -- we live in a pseudo-work environment at all times, always ready to respond to that urgent call at a moment's notice. Our peace is gone, but what do we gain? Statistics will say absolutely nothing -- despite the increased work of the past few decades, the standard of living hasn't improved much, and I would argue that it's declined dramatically. Less time for exercise, for spending time with the family, and for contemplation in exchange for more "things" is not an increase in the standard of living, it's a plunge downward. But nobody seems to notice.
Today's world makes it much harder to take time off, to contemplate, to make the day holy. Even Sundays have lost their meaning. Malls keep opening later and later, and some stores refuse to even acknowledge the day. And after coming home on a Sunday, one is too easily bombarded by an informational overload from all types of LCD's coming from the family room, the bedroom, and our pockets. The peaceful and contemplative Sabbath is quickly disappearing.
And so we regress. In the Old era, God had to force His people to stop working so that they remember that day and to keep it holy, for Himself. In the New era, God tells them to be more concerned with the meaning and purpose and not just the ritual. Today, we forget both -- we live in a pseudo-work environment at all times, always ready to respond to that urgent call at a moment's notice. Our peace is gone, but what do we gain? Statistics will say absolutely nothing -- despite the increased work of the past few decades, the standard of living hasn't improved much, and I would argue that it's declined dramatically. Less time for exercise, for spending time with the family, and for contemplation in exchange for more "things" is not an increase in the standard of living, it's a plunge downward. But nobody seems to notice.
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