May 1, 2026

Business by the Book

John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

It’s been said that “The world is run by tired people.” Even Jesus grew tired and rested.  I have a friend that was a Navy Seal.  He told me about their training, that he became so tired at times that he didn’t think he could make it, but he did.  He earned his Trident, he served during the Vietnam conflict, and he is one of my heroes.  One time we were standing on a tee box waiting for our turn to hit a golf ball and I could tell he was deep in thought about something.

I asked him what he was thinking about and he said, “I’m counting the ways I could kill you.” Talk about gamesmanship, this was the ultimate. I tried to act casual by asking him how many ways he had devised, he replied twenty-two. Then he began listing them. He was diabolical. I was more than a little uncomfortable, but I lived through it and have enjoyed telling that story for more than forty years. 

There was one thing he told me that I guess every soldier knows. He said, “No matter where you are when the opportunity presents itself go to sleep, because you never know how long it will be before there is another chance to sleep.” Sounds like sound advice. In business successful people must learn to rest. Successful people are usually not sluggards, for they are too busy to be lazy. Actually, they tend to not get enough rest. Even the Lord God took one day a week to rest after creating the world. Jesus rested from His labors. John 18:2 clearly tells us this: And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.  If God the Father needs rest, if the Lord Jesus needs rest, we also need proper rest. 

Learn to rest when you can, carve out time for rest, force yourself to rest if need be. For in doing so your mental and physical facilities will be recharged and ready to face the task ahead. When opportunity arises rest a while. After all, you don’t know when you will get another chance.

Dr. William Howe