I was resting between sets at the gym when I saw a man with a t-shirt that had a slogan “The Best never Rest.” Sounds impressive indeed. A very proud statement, especially in the gym context. Oh! Just to add that he was not a big muscular guy but a skinny one. Quite an irony and laughable.

“The Best never Rest” is a wrong egotistical idea. The best must always rest. It is in the resting period that we recover and grow. In the context of bodybuilding, rest is absolutely vital for maximum results. The soldiers in the special forces do not rest in their training because they are trained for extreme conditions where rest may not be possible. They are learning to cope with those. However, such extreme conditions are not the norm. The norm is to rest and recover.

Many full-time workers, who are serious in their work, put rest as the lowest priority in their schedule. This is the outcome of wrong thinking and wrong expectations from members of the church. Full-time workers in church are not supermen. They are as human as another member. They can fail in every aspect, especially in bodily health if pushed too hard. Our physiology tells us that the harder we push, the less will be done. The law of diminishing returns sets in.

To rest is not to idle but to recuperate for greater works. Jesus does that all the time. He will take time off to be in solitude and pray; not in some “church retreat.” It is alone time with the Father. To take a nap, or to go for a walk is to rest from the rigour of the day to re-center. To move away from the problem and sort the noises out.

Brothers and sisters, we must not let the world push us into a frenzy. Whether we are working in church or the secular sector, proper time away must be observed for our wellbeing. At no time should we think that we are different as if we are super beings. Jesus urges those who are heavy laden, to come to him and rest.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

我正坐在健身房的两套器材之间休息，就看见一位男士的T恤上有一句口号“最优秀的人永不言休”。听起来果真不同凡响。一句非常骄傲的话语，尤其是在健身的环境里。哦，顺带提一下，他不是肌肉男，只是瘦小的人。相当讽刺也令人觉得可笑。

“最优秀的人永不言休”是一个错误且自负的观念。最优秀的人一定要休息。我们在休息的阶段才能重振及成长。在健美的范畴里，要达到最佳状态，休息绝对是重要的。在特殊部队里的军兵不会在他们的训练中休息，因为他们要受训以面对可能无法休息的极端境况，他们必须学习去适应。然而，这些极端的境况不是一般可见的。一般上就是要休息及复原。

很多在工作上很严谨的全职同工，把休息放在他们时间表里最低的位置。这是来自教会会友错误观念及错误期望的结果。教会里的全职同工不是超人，他们就如其他会友一样只是凡人。若被强逼到极限，他们可以在任何方面经历失败，尤其是身体的健康。生理学告诉我们，逼得越紧，收益越减。收益递减的定律开始出现。

休息不是慵懒，而是为更大的工作养精蓄锐。耶稣就经常这么作。他会安排时间独处及祷告；不是在一些“教会退修会”，是与天父独处的时间。打个盹儿或散散步就是从严苛的一天里得到休息并重新聚焦，也可以从问题中移开，并将噪声整理出来。

弟兄姐妹，我们不能允许世界将我们推进狂热中。无论我们是在教会或世俗的地方工作，为了我们的健康，要注重适当的休息时间。绝对不能看自己像超级生物，以为我们异于常人。耶稣也催促凡劳苦担重担的人可以到祂那里得安息。

上帝赐福,
在基督里服事的,

Barry Leong
（林秀娟会吏翻译）