LOVING GOD THROUGH THE 1ST FOUR (4) COMMANDMENTS

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your
work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any
work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your
cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh” (Exodus 20:8-11).
The Purpose And Meaning Of The Fourth Commandment
The Sabbath is a day set aside for rest and worship. According to the Book of Exodus the
Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day, commanded by God to be kept as a holy day
of rest, as God rested from creation.
God's action in creation is the model for human action. If God "rested and was refreshed"
on the seventh day, man too ought to "rest" and should let himself and others, (especially
the poor), "be refreshed." The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a
“break for relaxation” of both mind and body.
On Sabbath, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the
worship owed to God. Simply so we may relax, and recuperate both body and soul that we
may better serve Him and our neighbor.” The Lord’s Day helps everyone to enjoy
adequate rest and leisure to cultivate our familial, cultural, social and religious lives. Once
a week, we devote time and care to our families and relatives (family bonding). A time for
reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind and meditation which deepen the growth of
spiritual life.
Though man has to work for his own sustenance (needs), without God’s blessing, his work
will be in vain.
TYPES OF WORK
1. Servile Work = work that is physical in nature and generally forbidden on Sabbath
Day. These are manual works: it includes: plowing, drilling, gardening, welding,
loading, house painting, folding laundry, ironing, or sowing etc.”

2. Liberal Works = work that is recreational, relaxing or performed out of charity for
others.
Examples: Singing in choir, reading, studying, writing, painting.
Human Activities and Necessary Servile Work on Sabbath Day
❖ Charity (altruism) is always allowed on the Lord’s Day.
❖ Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the
obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not
lead to habits prejudicial (harmful) to sabbath, family life, and health.
❖ Necessary servile work is also permitted in police, firemen, medical personnel,
taxis, gas stations, restaurants and feeding livestocks.
❖ Also playing at attending sporting events or leisure trips are both fine, as long
as they are kept with the proper perspective of the Lord’s day and not seen as more
important than the Lord or Holy Eucharist.
 LOVING GOD THROUGH THE 1ST FOUR (4) COMMANDMENTS
The Christian Sabbath
For Christians, the observance of the Sabbath is transferred to Sunday, the day that Jesus
rose from the dead – the Resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead "on the first day of the
week. It symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ's Resurrection. For Christians it
has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord's Day.