Starting next week my wife and I will be heading out of state on vacation.  We have a relaxing couple of days planned and while I am very much looking forward to the time it will mean that the next regular update to matthew515 will not occur until Friday, July 19th.

Vacation should be a time of rest and relaxation and renewal although it seems like very often it does not turn out that way.  We plan time to get away from our daily lives and go and do something different which will hopefully refresh and rejuvenate us.  In theory at least, we plan a time to rest and play so that we may then go and work all the better.

“I need a vacation!”  “I need to get away!”  “I have got to take some time off!”  Do any of those sound familiar to you?  I know I’ve uttered those phrases at least once (ok, more than once) and I’ve heard co-workers say them as well.  What we’re really saying is “I’m tired and drained and I need to rest and renew myself” or at least “I need different scenery for a few days”.  I doubt that we are consciously thinking “I need to go play for a little while so that I can come and work effectively again!” even though that should be the goal.

Especially for we who call ourselves Christians; the goal of our rest and play should be to renew us that we may work all the better.  In our society “play” is glorified as an end unto itself.   We have elevated recreation to an art form and in many cases laziness and idleness are seen as the ultimate end.  We end up chasing wealth in order that we may buy better toys and spend more time playing instead of glorifying God and committing our work unto Him.

Here is what I am learning; Play done for the sake of gratification of the flesh is not Godly.  Playing as a means to worship the Lord and renew ourselves for further good works fulfills 1 Corinthians 10:31 where it says “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  I would also like to point out 1 Peter 4:11 which says “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Is God glorified by the time we spend resting and playing?  Is God glorified by the emphasis we put on working and playing?  Do we play that we may work better or do we work that we may play better?

For many years I thought work was something I had to tolerate so that I would have money to live, and more importantly, to play.  I was all about my free time.  I resented any intrusions on my free time and only grudgingly did I give of myself because my priorities were completely wrong.  Thank God He has shown me a different and better way!

I am beginning to learn what Colossians 3:23 means when it says “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”.  This work that God has given me to do is the most fulfilling and joyful task that I have ever been given.  I still need time to rest and to play so that I may be physically and mentally renewed but my time spent doing so is now fully committed to God’s glory.  It is not my time, it is His.

As I plan and prepare for vacation next week I pray that the Lord may bless our time and that we may glorify Him with our words and deeds.  I look forward to coming back refreshed and I am excited about discovering what He has in store for His children.  I go to a place of rest so that I may come back and work for Him.