Imagine if we added an eighth day to every week, where there is no work or school... only free time and rest. How would this impact the other days of your week?
In real life, changing the calendar this way would have too many consequences... but the Bible suggests a way of getting the most out of rest, which provides virtually the same benefits. This ancient practice - to guard a special resting day or "keep the Sabbath holy" - is making a lifestyle choice more rewarding than any productivity time you sacrifice.
For Christians, this should be a distinguishing feature of our faith. While Islam and Mormonism promote a tireless tunnel vision toward good works, Jesus offers grace (Hebrews 4)-- inviting us to abide, and to produce fruit out of this surrender. Intellectually, we understand this, but guarding a Sabbath day (not out of legalism, but from joyful choice) should help us to walk in it. Why would we assume our theoretical assent to this doctrine is enough, when the pattern of our week and values of our culture all emphasize our worth through effort?
For us Americans, members of the most overworked country in the world by measure of tracked and untracked hours, we could stand to listen, consider why the rest of the world seems "lazy" in our eyes, and reform our own time spent in relaxation.
Also, as college students, we are under constant threat of our free time being invaded with homework. For as much as we laugh at our own procrastination, it's questionable whether our carefree moments on social media or YouTube are actually rejuvenating us... when we are nagged on and off with guilt and stress that whole time.
From my own experience, I've tested this advice by guarding a weekly time of rest (usually between Friday evening and Saturday morning). I've found this discipline to be immensely enjoyable and a blessing for the following days of work.
If you choose to protect a special day off, the specific activities you do will vary personally, but here is how I've learned to make the most of your rest-- make it liberating, and make it life-giving.
