Stepping off the Hamster Wheel: How Sabbath Rest Can Mend Our Concept of Work
Jason Rivera ’27 highlights the vital role of rest in an op-ed adapted from his sermon for the William Sloane Coffin Preaching Competition, where he was a finalist.
A friend once said to me, “Being at school is like being a hamster on a wheel, always running to exhaustion without ever getting on top.”
Many students can relate to this relentless exhaustion. At Williams Christian Fellowship, the most frequent prayer request is for help managing readings, problem sets, and exam preparation. I often share this struggle myself.
Even if you have perfect time management and never face overwhelming workloads, this message remains crucial.
You might wonder if biblical stories contain secret study tips that help me ace exams. The answer is no. Yet, from the beginning, God clearly outlines a balance between work and rest.
In Genesis 1, we find a beautiful poem of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh.
This biblical rhythm teaches us that rest is not optional but part of a divine pattern meant to restore and sustain us beyond constant labor.
Author’s summary: Embracing Sabbath rest reshapes our understanding of work, offering relief and renewal in a culture fixated on endless productivity.
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