There are two types of sleep: B.C. and A.D. "Before Children" and "After Death."

God does not take naps, but you might need one. Far too many pastors do not get a proper cycle of rest. In the fourth commandment, God set up a pattern of work and rest. This pattern goes back to the creation account in which God rested on the seventh day.

Notice the connection between rest and salvation in Psalm 62:1 (CSB): "I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him." True rest is found only in God's salvation. In the Old Testament, we have the promise of rest from God. In the New Testament, we learn how to enter this rest—only through Jesus. You cannot properly point people to eternal rest in Christ if you are not rested spiritually and physically.

Generally, Americans are restless. In the 1940s, the average American got eight hours of sleep per night. Today, the average is under seven hours. We are burnt out, worn out, tired, sleepy and cooked. Our first two movements in the morning are to stop the alarm clock and look at the cell phone.

Everyone needs rest. Taking a sabbath is important. Taking a vacation is important.

Pastors should model proper behavior. Part of leadership is showing the way. It is hypocritical to teach about spiritual health if you're not accounting for your own physical health. A fat slob of a preacher will never effectively communicate spiritual disciplines. A workaholic pastor cannot possibly communicate moderation honestly.

Pastors are not the heroes of their churches. You need this reminder. Your church needs this reminder. If you lead well, you will equip enough people to serve while you take a quick breather. Entire ministries are built around the charisma of a talented leader. Clearly, this model is wrong and completely unsustainable. However, it's just as wrong to believe your church cannot possibly operate for a Sunday or two in your absence. Both models—the charismatic hero and the worker bee hero—are misguided.

Your family needs more of your time. Rare is the pastor who is dedicating too much time to family. Most pastors have created idols of their churches at the expense of their families. Idol worship is always destructive and never beneficial. Take a vacation and kill your idols.

Creativity needs to be recharged. Like a battery, creative energy often needs a recharge. You can operate on low power for quite some time. You can lead through weariness, but creativity almost always suffers. Take a vacation and come back a more energized and creative leader.

God created fun. Neglecting fun is neglecting a part of God. Go and have fun with your family. We don't need any more curmudgeon pastors.

Physical rest is good for the soul. There are those who believe the answer to their unrest is simply working harder, doing more and justifying themselves.

The harder you work to find rest apart from God, the more restless you become. True rest comes when you trust in Christ's work, not your own.

That's the point of the atonement—Christ's work on our behalf. If you're not resting regularly, then you're relying on your own efforts, not those of Jesus.

Sam Rainer serves as the president of Church Answers. He is also the lead pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church and the co-host of the Est.Church podcast. Sam co-founded Rainer Publishing and serves as the president of Revitalize Network. He has a wonderful wife, four fun children, a smart old dog, a dumb young dog and a cat his daughters insisted on keeping.

For the original article, visit churchanswers.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.