In the old days, the main source of sustenance was agriculture. Farming was popular and those that had adequate land and enough human resources to manage their farms became society’s wealthiest.
The land was the main resource and asset to any farmer. So, farmers had to be intentional on the acquisition, nurture and use of their land. The more land one had, the better their chances for prosperity.
In Lev 25:1-7, God was mindful of the land as a resource. As an important resource, the land was to keep a sabbath to God which means it was to take a break and to rest. Lev 25:2
The land’s purpose was for plowing, pruning and planting, but it was to rest in the 7th year. Because of its central role, land was to be treated with great care.
God is calling our attention to the fact that anything as important and useful to us such as our lands need to be handled with intentional care which includes allowing them to rest occasionally. This is to ensure higher yield and productivity.
God Himself modeled this principle at creation. After six days of work, He rested on the seventh. He took a break. He didn’t keep going and going. Though Almighty and unlimited in power, He chose to pause, showing us, that rest is not weakness but wisdom.
So, the land, as critical as it was for provision, was required to rest. This principle reveals a divine truth: anything useful and important to us must be handled with intentional care, which includes giving it time to pause and recover.
Stewardship and Accountability
The instruction in Leviticus was more than agricultural advice; it was spiritual training in stewardship. The land was not just Israel’s possession—it was God’s gift. We also need to understand that allowing the land to rest acknowledged that God was the ultimate provider. Although He is willing to meet us with our every need, He wants us to manage the resources He has blessed us with care and full accountability.
Let your resources rest so that they remain productive. Let the blender rest; let the computer, the clothes, wigs rest. 😊
Rest as a Principle of Prosperity
Resting resources may feel counterintuitive in a world that prizes constant activity, productivity, and accumulation. However, be reminded that rest is not the enemy of progress but the foundation of it. The principle is simple: when we rest what God has given us, we position them and ourselves for greater fruitfulness.
Closing Reflection
What in our lives needs intentional care and a season of rest? Where have we pushed too hard, forgetting that rest is part of God’s design?
Be intentional with the gifts God has entrusted to you. Allow them to rest and watch how He multiplies their fruitfulness in due season.
While the land required rest to remain fruitful, there is another resource we carry with us every day that is even more valuable—our mind. In Part 2 – The Mind as Our Most Valuable Resource, we will explore why our minds need intentional care and rest, and how nurturing this resource allows us to thrive in every area of life.