Scripture links the fourth commandment with God's great acts of creation and salvation. In creation God worked for six creative days; then the Creator rested and rejoiced in what he made. We, his creatures, must also rest and rejoice after a week of work (Exodus 20:11).
The Lord's Day is also linked with salvation: "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there" (Deuteronomy 5:15). The Israelites spent many decades as slaves, decades without a day off. Then God saved them. But why be rescued only to be enslaved by their own schedules rather than by the Egyptians?
God commands us to enjoy the fruits of his creation and the freedom of his salvation in Christ. You can't do that if you are frantically busy seven days a week. Your relationship to God suffers, and you suffer. Life becomes a job instead of a joy. You work and worry your way through each week; you plan and perspire your way through each day.
Leave the rat race to the rats. Don't enslave yourself to nonstop work, and don't enslave other people. Take at least one day in seven to relax and to worship, whether you think you can afford to or not. If you're too busy for God, you're too busy. If you don't have time for relaxation and worship, make time. Rest and rejoice in God today.
PRAYER--"O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light, O balm of care and sadness, Most beautiful, most bright." Creator and Savior, better is one day with you than a thousand elsewhere. Amen.