Once upon a time in America, “blue laws” prohibited businesses from opening on Sundays. It wasn’t that long ago! Imagine: neither Chick-fil-A nor In-N-Out was available on a Sunday! What would we do… STARVE!!

This seems almost laughable to modern Americans, as we’ve become so accustomed to the constant hum of work and commerce that a day of rest appears inconvenient, even lazy.

Athletes admire and respect the motto, “No Days Off!” We’ve all heard it said, “Every day you take off, someone else is out there working harder and getting better than you!” We’ve all looked up to superstars who seem to sell their souls to their sport, conquering rivals with unwavering will and determination for gold medals and championships.

But is this God’s will for His children?

Living in Argentina for five years, I experienced a culture where Sundays were sacred and reserved for family, friends, and food. Picture this: businesses closed, the world slowing down, church congregations gathering, and afterward, loved ones gathering around a crackling fire, filling the air with the aroma of sizzling steak asado, the sound of singing, and the clinking of glasses of rich Malbec wine.

This lifestyle wasn’t limited to Sundays; most Argentine businesses closed daily from 1 to 5 p.m. for “siesta,” when everyone, including students, returned home for lunch and a nap. I miss the siesta so much!

You might criticize me, saying, “Well, Argentina is in an economic crisis! Maybe they should work harder!” But are you happier than they are? Many friends visited me in Argentina and felt humbled by the love and hospitality received from kind and joyful people whose generosity put ours to shame despite having comparatively fewer possessions. Perhaps they understand something we’ve forgotten in America: it’s not about what you have but about how you live that matters.

This leads us to the fourth enemy of grace: consumerism. Its roots lie in the word “consume,” meaning to use up, devour, or expend. Consumerism thrives on greed, jealousy, and, above all, discontent, constantly shouting for our attention in commercials and advertisements that we don’t have enough and that we need the latest iPhone, the newest car, the coolest clothes, the bigger house, or the more prestigious job to find fulfillment. When discontented customers meet the aggressive marketing of business owners competing for your attention, the result is no Sundays or any day off.

But consumerism goes beyond things. It creeps into our identity, whispering, “You haven’t done enough!” We all long to be important, to be recognized, and ultimately, to be loved! We tend to gravitate toward what we excel at because that’s where we receive the most praise. So, we work tirelessly to reach a point where we believe we will finally be important enough. This, too, is a vain chasing after the wind, as accomplishments and recognition are fleeting.

This is why God instituted the Sabbath. Our Creator knew we would have these consumeristic tendencies! The heart of the Sabbath is more than a mere day of rest or a mandated break from labor; it’s so much more. It’s a divine rhythm and command woven into the very fabric of creation.

In Genesis, after completing His work on the sixth day, God declared His work “very good.” (Gen. 1:31). Then, “the seventh day He rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Gen 2:2-3). 

Why did God rest? Not because He was tired but because He was delightfully content in His creation! As Norman Wirzba eloquently states in “Living the Sabbath,” “The Sabbath is actually the key that unlocks the meaning of everything God does in the first six days of making the world… The point is for us to learn to love and delight in the goodness and beauty of God made… because that’s what God did.”

The Sabbath is an invitation to imitate God: to create and work, and then pause, delighting in the goodness of God’s creation and His continued work in and through us by the Holy Spirit. Observing the Sabbath plants a stake in the ground against the insatiable hunger of consumerism, declaring that our work or possessions do not define us. It’s a day of grace, a reminder that we don’t need more and more stuff, more and more recognition… just more and more of His presence! 

The Apostle Paul writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim. 6:6) This instruction to Timothy is followed by:

 “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Consumerism is one of those traps we can fall into, brothers and sisters. Flee from it. Honor the Sabbath. 

If you are currently observing the Sabbath, I would love to hear how you are doing it! When do you observe it, and how do you typically spend that day?

If you don’t currently observe the Sabbath, I want to challenge you to try it. Have you ever tried to take a day off, only to find yourself consumed by thoughts of the tasks awaiting you the next day? Incorporating the Sabbath into your weekly rhythm, a day of grace, will help you disconnect from the relentless cycle of production and consumption.

 So, let’s return to the art of the Holy Sabbath. The demise of blue laws was a triumph of consumerism. Lord, I repent for trading the quiet contentment of the Sabbath for the restless pursuit of ‘more.’ Thank you for the gift of the Sabbath, for the joy of simplicity and contentment in your presence, and for the true rest found in you, King Jesus.