Recently I was requested by a local church to speak about sabbaticals. Why should we have them or not have them? Some churches have instituted them and some avoid them like a disease. Why are there such different beliefs about sabbaticals? 

When I first began to study sabbaticals and talk to leaders about them, I seemed to receive two opposing responses: 1. We don’t need them. We’re to work six days and then rest on one. Take your vacation and your day off and you’ll be fine. 2. I know what burnout is and apparently God knew the potential as well. He created the weekly sabbath and the 7-year break; it must be important to Him. 

Who’s correct? Well, both in different ways. Yes, take your day off and yes, take your vacations; keep your work, rest, play, worship in balance and you’ll be fine. The problem is most ministry leaders do not incorporate this level of balance in their life. In fact, MarketWatch reports that 51% of those who earn annual vacations don’t even take them. To those who have taken a sabbatical, they are convinced this is a plan from God for mankind. 

Busyness is not necessarily godliness. Busyness can rob us of what is truly important: relationship with God and man. We can be so busy that we become disconnected. The most valuable resource you have is time. Don’t waste it!

Sabbaticals are not for those who are totally burned out; they need intervention. Sabbaticals are an offensive tool designed to provide a time out. We see the concept of a time out on the athletic field; why not in the ministry field? Why do churches allow their leaders to burn out trying to heal everyone? It’s an old mentality that says, “Get all we can from them because we hired them to take care of us.” That is a “hireling” mentality.

We are not called to be hirelings, but rather equippers of the saints. Ephesians 4:12-13 reveals we are to prepare God’s people for the work of service to the body of Christ to become mature. We teach, we train, we counsel to bring those we serve to maturity so they can go and do likewise. 

Before you push back and tell me the sabbath is an Old Testament principle only, let me remind you that Jesus also discussed the sabbath. He said in Mark 2 that the sabbath was made for man, not man made for the sabbath and then He said that He was Lord of the sabbath. The sabbath is no longer a burden of rules and regulations, but rather rest, refreshment, and a blessing for mankind. Jesus said, we were to come to Him in our weariness because His burden is light and He’ll give us rest. (See Matthew 11:28-30.) 

He’ll give us rest. I love that reminder! 

Would you like to read a book on taking a sabbatical. Here is one I would recommend. :)