Hard Work vs. Rest

I was sitting outside eating some Subway (6″ Meatball) and I was watching a yard worker, looked at the hedges he was trimming, and thought to myself how few people actually ever saw those hedges. Is his time really being used wisely? Who pays him, is he doing what God wants?

Random thought, I know, but the question that was really burning in my mind was, did God want him to be trimming those hedges at that time? I think that is the question we need to be asking God every moment of every day.

How do we reconcile the following passages about hard work; 

Proverbs 13:4  - The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

With these passages about rest; 

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 4:9-11 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

It seems that the predominant preaching in most churches today leans more toward rest than hard work. A couple pastors answered us when we posted the question Twitter of more work or more rest, and here is their responses;

@hartramsey - ”He’s calling us to rest in what He’s finished b4 we work.”

- Hart Ramsey, Senior Pastor, Northview Christian Church in Montgomery, Alabama

@Pastor_Jjo - “Neither more or less. The work is done, we rest in that!”

- Jason D. Jordan, Senior Pastor of Love of Christ Fellowship Center in St. Thomas

Obviously there must be a balance between work and rest, and perhaps the answer is that simple, yet it also seems most Christians today (especially those who are struggling financially), have a very hard time with overworking and stress.

What are your thoughts?