PART 8 – PRINCIPLE OF SABBATH
In Old Testament days, the Ten Commandments were held up as vital rules for Israel, and indeed through them the intention was that they would become the guiding rules for all the world. There is no serious dispute about any of the ten rules, which are a summary of the whole Law – some 600 small laws altogether – because all the rules except one are built in to every normal human being. All races and cultures hold to the idea that it is right to worship a god, to show love and respect to others, to honour parents, to tell the truth, to not steal or be greedy and so on. The only one out of the ten that is not reinforced or endorsed is the keeping of the Sabbath, which meant not just one day in seven, but land rest every seventh year, and also financial rest every 50 years.
However, despite the wider principles of Sabbath, the smaller principle of having a rest is crucial to health and happiness. Most people know about taking a break, or running off for a holiday, or resting up at least at the end of each busy day, so the Sabbath law is still kept, though in a multitude of different ways. Part of a healthy lifestyle has to include recreation. Humans are not built to be machines. We need variety, amusement, distraction and entertainment. We need avenues to be creative. A break is an important factor in running a business, because it refreshes the manager and staff and there are some studies which show that regular resting can extend one’s lifespan.
In Nehemiah chapter 13 Nehemiah himself ordered that the gates of the city be shut on the evening before the Sabbath, to prevent trade and commerce during the day of rest. He would not be a popular man in many of today’s cities, which have businesses that remain open 24/7! However, modern businesses could overcome the problem of resting by rotating staff, and many of them do. Even our trade unions have riles protecting workers from exploitation in the form of over work, or unreasonable hours. To compensate for the lack of rest some workers are paid double, or triple time.
And let us not forget that the Sabbath day was not designed entirely for Israelites to go running off to their own pursuits. The day was given partly as a token of God’s love for Mankind, in which they were to acknowledge Him as their Creator, and devote some of the day to worship and thanks.
This spiritual aspect of the Sabbath is entirely missing from many businesses, whose only goal seems to be self-elevation and material gain.
How to run a business using Bible principles – Introduction
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 1
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 2
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 3
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 4
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 5
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 6
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 7
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 9
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 10
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 11
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 12
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 13