YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

Todd was brought up in a very strict religious home. His parents believed they should do what the Bible says. They taught their children to do the same. The restrictive life that Todd’s parents lived just wasn’t for him. There were certainly more attractive things to do than keep the Sabbath holy. He was embarrassed to tell his friends that he couldn’t go to the ball game, movie, or a dance on Friday night.

He yearned to be like his friends and was tired of being different. Graduation was approaching as Todd celebrated his 18th birthday. Shedding all of this religious stuff and being free at last seemed like heaven to Todd.

Todd conveniently forgot a saying his dad quoted so often, “Your companions are like the buttons on an elevator. They will either take you up or they will take you down.” The last thing Todd wanted to concentrate on was a Scripture his Mom had him memorize in the sixth grade, “Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road that seems right but ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12).

One of Todd’s dreams was to become a computer whiz and make big bucks. Eighteen, and on his own, he started to college with his friends. At last he could do what they did. So he got a job working as many hours as his class load would allow. It was no problem working on the Sabbath now that he was out of his parent’s house. He burned the midnight oil seven days a week. After all, he was young and healthy, so he thought, and he could push it hard.

While working the late shift one Friday night, Todd’s head began to pound. His neck had never been so stiff. His skin was hot and feverish and he felt really sick. He got in bed about midnight and thought he’d sleep it off. But there was no such luck. His temperature climbed and he became delirious. His room- mate rushed him to the emergency room and learned that Todd had meningitis. Todd’s par- ents arrived to be at his bedside in the intensive care unit as his life hung in the balance.

No, God’s not out there to get you every time you do something on the Sabbath that you shouldn’t. But that does not mean there are not laws at work. God designed your body to need a day of rest each week. One of the first things that happens to your body when you don’t get your rest is a weakening of your immune system. You become more susceptible to all of those bugs waiting to pounce on you. There is another side of the coin to consider when you run rough shod over God’s law: Can you expect to have the rewards God promises in you memory verse?

Then what can you do on the Sabbath that will be pleasing in God’s sight? Exodus 20:8-10 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates” (TNAB).

But Jesus plucked corn and healed people on the Sabbath, you might say. Yes, He did. Since He did those things on the Sabbath, did He break the Sabbath?

When the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, He explained that when King David and his men were hungry, they went into the Temple and ate the showbread, a special bread placed before God. Jesus pointed out that what David did was illegal. But He did not condemn David for taking care of human needs on the Sabbath.

On another Sabbath a man with a deformed hand was present at the synagogue, where Jesus was teaching. Even though the Pharisees were watching to see if Jesus would heal the man, He proceeded to do exactly that. Jesus answered their questions by asking questions. “Is it right to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do harm? To save life, or to destroy it?” Jesus is actually the Lord of the Sabbath day and He clearly shows that it is okay to do good on the Sabbath.

How does Todd’s situation differ from what Jesus did? Todd was not doing good to his own body by burning the candle at both ends. He had no intentions of keeping the Sabbath. Todd’s motives were not to do good, but to make the big bucks as soon as he could, regardless of the teachings of his parents and the Bible.

Keeping the Sabbath isn’t always easy, but it’s the way to please God. Can you expect God to look down on you with love, compassion and His blessings when you flout His law? God provides time for your body to rest every Sabbath day. He sets aside a special day for you to spend additional time with Him. The way may be difficult at times, but God promises that in the end, He will remember to bless you.