A Rule of Life

The following blog is the 4th in a series on “Moving from Hurried to Purposeful” by Darren Bosch.

Rules, regulations, and limitations. At times, that is what I have thought of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. How about you? Is your impression of God someone who places rules on our lives to reduce our joy?

As a business leader, do you sometimes wonder if God really understands what our busy lives are really like? Or maybe that the Bible needs an entirely new section to make it more relevant for our times? Do you ever think... “Our culture of hurry is what it is. The world is changing fast, and we just gotta adjust or suck it up right?”

What about the Old Testament, what’s with all of the special days, and festivals the Israelites were to follow?

1. Work six days, take the seventh day off
2. Work the land for six years, leave it for the seventh
3. Every 49 years return all land to the original family of ownership (The Year of Jubilee)
4. Daily & monthly offerings
5. Passover Celebration
6. Feast of Weeks, Trumpets & Booths
7. Day of Atonement

Stoooooop!! Whatever they are supposed to mean today, they just seem to make my head spin. I don’t even have time to be with my spouse for dinner every day. Don’t get me started on opening my bible and praying each day. Are you feeling what I’m feeling?

Yet, in our most honest moments, when we pause long enough to breathe and reflect - just for a few moments - don’t we wish for something different? A better pace in life? Even if we don’t understand the meaning of these Old Testament rhythms, is there something about a way of life that provides moments to breathe and connect, that is intriguing to us? Do you think there may be a God-designed way to deal with the busyness of life?

So how about Jesus? Surely he too was a busy guy. He knew that he only had 3 years to train up a team to take on the work that would change the world. What did he have to say about all of this? Did Jesus have life rhythms that served him and those around him?

I so appreciate Mark 1:35. When you read the Gospels, it’s clear Jesus too was busy but not hurried. He never appeared to be in a rush. He knew his calling and he lived into it. He listened to the Father and lived as he was prompted. 

Let’s think for a moment... We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1). Does it then make sense that the Creator knows how His creation is to engage life? If Jesus is God, and the Creator of all things, is it possible that the life he lived while on earth is the life we are to look to for our guidance?

At one point, Jesus had something very profound to say about the rhythm of the Sabbath.

“The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath - Mark 2:27 NLT

So how does this all work?

1. We are created in God’s image
2. God established rhythms for the Israelite nation
3. Jesus, who is God, modeled the beauty of life rhythms
4. Jesus lived an unhurried life
5. There is something in us that knows there is a different way

The apostle Paul is quite clear that we are to “learn” to know Christ and become more and more like him (Colossians 3:10 NLT). So the question is: Do you believe there is a way to live life, at a pace that lets us continually see the beauty of all that God has for you and me?

Deliberate Application

1. In what ways are you choosing healthy, biblical-inspired rhythms as a “rule of life”?
2. How might your inability to live an unhurried life impact your business, marriage, parenting, friendships, or ability to serve?
3. Need some ideas for better rhythms? Check out some practical ideas here