I’m not as bad as that, but in the past (have you noticed Christian speakers and writers only ever have problems in the past?) I’ve had a tendency to enshrine my presents instead of using and enjoying them. Why? I’m not sure, except that the dread of decay and failure has always been a part of my life-view that I’ve needed to steer around at crucial moments. Until recently, I had a drawer upstairs where I’d bury gifts once I’d unwrapped them. There in the darkness they sat, uncorrupted and unused until the indignant protests of the givers forced me to get them out and do something with them. 

One of God’s gifts to men was the Sabbath, a day of rest. The Christian church, of which I’m a not very humble member, has been arguing about how to use it ever since. All I know is what Jesus said. The Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 

I don’t know if God gets as annoyed over our misuse of the Sabbath as my children did over me shoving their gifts in my drawer, but the principle’s the same. The Pharisees, then - and now, I’m afraid - have enshrined a gift from God that was supposed to be used, not only for praise and worship, but for refreshment and relaxation after a long week. They’ve turned it into something not far removed from an idol. How silly! Come on, all of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus, let’s get this and all of God’s other good, practical gifts out of the drawer and make him happy by enjoying them.