1543) I work with a bunch of people who take their jobs teaching and administrating on behalf of the children in our area seriously. They are people who give 150%, every day of the school year. Working in education is not for the faint of heart. Oh, yes, we have two months off during the summer but, remember, our pay is only for the school weeks, spread out all year around. We work at a physical building all day, write lesson plans, make visuals, set up digital assignments, grade papers, field email messages and phone calls to parents and, many of us pray for our students. These things are done mostly outside of “working hours”.

For me, I can’t go to sleep until I know I have everything ready for the next school day. Sometimes this has meant an extra two hours of work after supper. The “responsible” one inside me makes it very difficult to let it go and get some rest, but today I want us to consider this type of “responsibility.”

Is it truly responsible to work diligently regular work hours but then continue for many more in the evenings and on weekends? Sometimes the answer is yes, but often, the answer is no.

Jesus tells us we are to “Come to (him), all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and (he) will give you rest.” Let’s break it down into the verse’s original language.

Jesus said:

Come Greek word: deute – an exclamatory word.

Weary  Greek word: kopiaó to labor until worn-out, depleted.

Heavy burdens Greek word: phortizó overloaded

Rest  Greek word: anapauó Intermission from labor.

Putting it all together: Come! Now! All you who are worn out, depleted and overloaded and I will give you an intermission from your labor.” In other words, If you’re burdened, Stop! And come to God and rest in him.

It is hard for me to “stop” being what I believe is responsible. Maybe I need to redefine what being responsible really is? How about you?