Robinson Crusoe fell desperately ill, and just before dropping into a coma, he called for his man Friday to help him. Friday, not knowing what else to do, went outside of Crusoe’s tent and danced around and prayed for God to come and help his master.
Shortly afterwards, Crusoe awoke from his coma and groggily perceived a shape at the foot of his bed. In panic, he imagined that the angel of death had come to get him. Then the shape came into focus, and he cried out with relief, “Thank God! It’s Friday!”
According to the internet, the phrase “Thank God It’s Friday” was created in the early 1970’s by Jerry Healy, a disk jockey on radio station WAKR in Akron, Ohio. It eventually became common nationwide as an expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend!
It seems to me to be an indication of the stress Americans feel overall. Perhaps there is in our culture a general lack of enjoyment at work, an expectation of excessive work hours, and a high premium on financial success.
Whatever the factors, many people seem to be starving for rest and relief from the demanding work week. Furthermore, we sometimes find our weekends so packed with activities and obligations that we don’t really get rested before it’s time to go back to work. Thus, we often find ourselves advising people to “get some rest.” Guess who came up with the saying, “Now get your rest!” Not your mother. Not your best friend. Not your doctor. It was God.
First, he set the example himself. “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” (Genesis 2:2) God himself knew when he had done enough work, and it was time to rest. (Do you?)
His work was satisfying. What he did during the work of creation he labeled as “good.” And perhaps we should pause each day, or at least at the end of the week, and say, “That was good. What I did helped me, my family, and others in some way.” And then we should know that we have worked enough, it is time to rest.
Our standard five-day work week means two days off, yes. But there is still work to be done regarding home and family. But at least one of those days should qualify as a “holy rest” in the spirit of the Sabbath commandment. Thus, God gave us instructions to imitate him in getting our rest. “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.” (Exodus 31:15a)
Maybe you don’t exactly do a 24-hour continuous rest period, but you and I need a way to refresh each week. The extent of your rest is not supposed to be “however much you sleep at night.” It needs to be supplemented with the renewal of your mind, body, and spirit.
Therefore, resting doesn’t mean just sleeping. Find your way to experience the breezes of God refreshing you in these areas … emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Don’t leave one out. Sometimes we are taking care of one or two of those areas, and still don’t feel fully alive, rested, and energetic.
I have another saying that I use for myself, “Thank God It’s Sunday.” When I don’t worship together with others and find extra time to be refreshed in the Lord, I feel like my week is not complete.
Enjoy your weekend, get some rest, attend worship …
That’s what I’m going to do,
Chaplain Mark
Other Verses:
I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
It is in vain that you rise up early, and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:2)