This week’s topic is that we need rest. We probably already know this is a physical and emotional reality, but it may surprise us to know God rests, and says we need it too. In fact, he commands rest in the first book of the Bible after God created the universe.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3 ESV)

A few weeks ago, we saw that God worked, and that we were created to work with him. Now we see God rested. We are also created to rest with him…and share that rest with others.

To help, God gave a rhythm for rest and work. Six days of work, and one day of rest. It’s not equal, as work still outweighs rest. But it’s rhythmic and balances our need for creation and recreation.

God’s rest is the model for our rest. What is God’s rest like?

First, He stops creating. Producing, accumulating, moving, operating.

Clearly his work of sustaining continued – the earth kept spinning and the plants keep growing. But his work of creating takes a pause.

Secondly, he was satisfied with his work. It’s finished. Some things are complete, good, and need to ripen.
We can see these kinds of rest in us today – we need to kick our feet up and stop creating, and we also need to rest by enjoying and appreciating things like nature, art, music and more.

We’ll look in future weeks at how that looks in our context. But we won’t be suggesting this is about a particular day or practice that creates God’s favour and blessing in our lives. It’s about God having created us, knowing what we need, and giving it to us as a gift, if only we’d take it.

Question: What kind of creating do you do? It’s not just artists – people create order, learning, art, ideas, value, research, roads, buildings and more. What do you create?

Ryan Sim - April 23, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Generosity

Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 6:1 says “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Jesus began with a general principle: Beware of practising your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them. This is one of three examples Jesus uses to illustrate. Look at two others in the next two weeks involving prayer and self-denial. First example, however, is giving: 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Jesus acknowledges that his followers are not the only nice, generous people out there, giving is not an exclusively Christian activity. Says to his followers in v. 2 & 3 "when" you give to the needy – simply assumes you will give to help others. This would be a big part of Jewish society...a box at every synagogue where money for the poor could be placed. Another clue: do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do. Even the hypocrites...whose habit of acting religious Jesus is about to attack quite vigorously...are known to give to the poor. Clearly Jesus doesn’t have to bother commending giving itself, it’s fairly universal. Same today. Jesus’ followers don’t have a monopoly of giving, or niceness. Charitable giving by Canadians was $10.6B in 2010 Some Christian, some not. Giving is widespread. When Jesus talks about giving to the poor, then and today, he’s not claiming that Christians are the only givers, only kind people. What he does want, however, is for his followers to give for particular reasons. More concerned about motivations than money. Wants them to hide their giving from others, hide from self, show to God. Today, we look at hiding it from others He wants his followers to hide their giving from others. Drive a Prius because it’s eco friendly, not for looks. Wants his followers to give generously to others whether the collection is in a basket or a bag, whether by pre-authorized giving or in cash, whether recognized by the charity or not. Wants their motivation to be something other than being noticed by others. Question: How does Jesus expect his followers to give like others, and how does he expect their giving to be different?

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