“The Law figuratively commands men to work for six days and on the seventh day to rest (cf. Exodus 20:9-10). The term ‘work’ when applied to the soul signifies acts of kindness and generosity by means of our possession — that is, through material things. But the soul’s rest and repose is to sell everything and ‘give to the poor’ (Matthew 19:21), as Christ Himself said; so through its lack of possessions it will rest from its work and devote itself to spiritual hope. Such is the rest into which Paul also exhorts us to enter, saying: ‘Let us strive therefore to enter that rest’ (Hebrews 4:11).”
Mark the Faster (fifth century) was also discipled of John Chyrsostom (as was Neilos of Sinai cited yesterday). His works are recounted in The Philokalia: The Complete Text, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarius of Corinth, Volume 1 (London: Faber & Faber, 1979) 137.
God made us to work and rest. He also gave us instructions about what to do with the fruit of work. We are to enjoy it and deploy it to those in need. When we hoard it for ourselves we actually fail to experience the rest God intends for us (think: we are a slave to whatever we think we own, as God owns everything). But that’s not all we miss out on. With this reading, the wise student of one of the most famous preachers in the early church deciphers a deeper spiritual truth.
People who fail to follow God’s design for work and handling possessions do not enter “rest” — that is, these souls miss out on grasping the “spiritual hope” offered to them. So worrying about what they have stockpiled distracts them from seeking God first and experiencing the hope they have in Him. Pray with me as I talk about the integration of faith and work in God’s economy with a group of pastors and lay leaders in Arkansas today that they will grasp this profound truth.