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Q. My job requires me to work on Sundays, but my boss has arranged my hours so I can attend worship. But is working on the Sabbath wrong, even if I attend a church service that day?

A. Today we live under God's grace rather than the Old Testament law (Romans 6:14). Let me explain. In the Old Testament, the law said the Sabbath had to remain holy. In fact, it's one of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:12, NIV) of the Old Testament. An orthodox Jew would have not even thought about working on the Sabbath. But today, we live under the principle of New Testament grace. Even working on Sundays falls under the banner of Christ's grace.

However, if at all possible I vote for taking the day away from work to focus on worship, rest, family and friends. Our culture has made Sunday a day to cram in more sports, more work and more shopping. I honestly believe that it causes us to not slow down enough.

Think of your life as a car with a tank full of gas. By the end of the week, it's out of gas. You need to drop by the gas station for a fill-up. You go, go, go all week long and you, well, run out of gas—and not just physically. You need to slow down and refill your spiritual, emotional and physical "tank." You need time to rest and exercise. And you need time specifically for God. A restful, worshipful Sunday is a good time for this to happen.

But what about if you have to work on Sundays? Well, I would suggest you find a day or even a night after school where you schedule "Sabbath time." Make sure you plan your weeks with this time always open. Write it into your planner. Get your homework done in study hall. And then, get busy not being busy. Relax, go for a run, spend time with God, and have fun with your family. Even if it's not Sunday, you need time to stop for a fill up.

There is a good reason the Bible says that on the seventh day God "rested from all the work of creating that he had done" (Genesis 2:3 NIV). He took a day off to replenish himself. This should be an example to us: Even God took a day to relax!

Due to the volume of mail, Jim cannot answer every letter.

Copyright © 2004 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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