Is your Sabbath Holy?

Evaluate the following letter in its obedience to the 4th Commandment to "remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

Dear Pastor:

You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated.

Christmas Holidays (the Sunday before and after): 2

New Year's (the party lasted too long): 1

Easter (get away for the holidays): 2
July 4th (national holidays): 1
Labor Day (need to get away): 2
Memorial Day (visit hometown folk): 1
School closing (kids need a break): 1
School reopens (one last fling): 1
Family reunions (mine and wife’s): 3
Sleep late (stayed up too long Saturday night): 9
Deaths in family: 2
Anniversary (second honeymoon): 1

Sickness (one per family member): 5

Business trip (a must): 1
Vacation (three to four weeks): 6
Bad weather (ice, snow, rain, clouds): 2
Ballgames: 2
Races:2
Unexpected company (can’t walk out): 2
Time changes (spring and fall): 2
Special on TV (Superbowl, etc.): 3

Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the 4th Sunday in February and the 3rd Sunday in August unless we are providentially hindered.


Sincerely,
A Faithful Member

Jesus said in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."  It seems that we are constantly seeking loopholes in how far we can go without breaking this commandment. The Sabbath was given to us as a time of physical rest and an opportunity to remember and focus on God in our lives.  I love what Philip Ryken says in his book, Written In Stone, concerning God's reason for the Sabbath day.  "God is calling us away from our own business to transact the most important business of all, which is to glorify him in our worship.  And when we try to make as much room as we can for our own pleasure, then we miss the greatest pleasure of all, which is fellowship with the living God."

God gave us six days to do our things.  He just requires one.  Sad to say that many who claim to love God selfishly want all seven days for themselves.  How can that honor God? 

Come see us Sunday.  We will be talking about that.

Pastor Jeff