Why Are Average Bank CD Rates Under 2% When Inflation Is 2.7%?

Persons seeking to avoid the risk of stocks, bonds, and many other investment options frequently put their money in banks, purchasing bank certificates of deposit (CDs).

However, they often earn less on their CD than the rate of inflation. They lose purchasing power over time.   

Average CD Rates Compared to the Inflation Rate

The average annual interest rate on CDs is currently less than 2% according to a January 12, 2026 Forbes article[1],  a NerdWallet  article [2] updated December 15, 2025, and a Bankrate article [3] dated December 23, 2025.

That’s less than the 2.7% rate of inflation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [4] reported that in December 2025 prices were 2.7% higher than a year ago. That means for all items in the Consumer Price Index, the overall price was 2.7% higher in December than for the same items a year ago.

Some banks apparently pay less than 1% annual interest on CDs. At a 1% rate, a $1,000 CD would only pay $10 per year. That would be equivalent to getting only a dime per $10. The picture below I took of a dime and a $10 bill illustrates this.

Reasons CDs Pay Less Than Stocks and Bonds

One reason CDs over the long term typically pay much less than stocks and bonds is because the CDs are less risky.

One reason CDs are less risky is that the federal government’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures such deposits. According to the FDIC website [5] “Deposits are insured up to at least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category.”

In contrast, a corporation may lose money, or it may go bankrupt. Stock and bond holders could lose all their money in case of bankruptcy.   

Another reason CDs are less risky is that the CD interest rate is usually fixed for the period of the CD. Stocks and bonds change value, although if you keep a bond for its entire term the rate is typically fixed.

Since CDs are a safer investment than corporation stocks or bonds, they pay less interest.

But that doesn’t seem to me to fully explain things. Supply and demand likely factor in. When banks need more money, they pay more to get it. When banks don’t need much money, perhaps due to fewer persons seeking or qualifying for loans, banks may pay less.

Also, banks can borrow from the federal government in addition to taking deposits from customers. As the federal government lowers its rates, banks typically lower theirs.  

The Best CD Rates

While the average CD rate is less than 2 percent, numerous websites that claim to list the best current rates as of January 2026 show higher rates. They list typical annual rates of 3% or 4% at banks.

But rates vary depending on how much one deposits, how long the CD time frame is, and which bank money is deposited in. The same bank may even offer different rates to customers living in different zip codes. Furthermore, online banks often offer higher rates than those with bricks and mortar locations.

However, at best CDs typically pay only 2-3 percent above the CPI. In order to earn 3% above the 2.7% inflation rate, a person would need to earn 5.7% annually on a CD. The highest CD rates I saw on various websites were all less than 5.7% annually.

Closing Thoughts

The full story of why banks often pay less than the rate of inflation on CDs is not known to me. Maybe even the banks don’t know all the reasons for their actions.

But if banks can get investors to deposit money in CDs at less than the rate of inflation, it’s common sense and good business sense for them to keep rates at less than the rate of inflation.

Consumers who compare rates and invest at FDIC-insured institutions paying the higher rates can help force other institutions to raise rates too. Persons may prefer a local bricks and mortar bank that pays a lower rate to an online bank though. Seek to invest wisely.     

ENDNOTES:

[1] Benninger, Michael (reviewed by Cetera, Mike); “CD Rates Today: January 12, 2026—Rates As High As 4.94%; Forbes; January 12, 2026, 4:40 a.m.; webpage accessed January 13, 2026; https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/cds/cd-rates-today-01-12-26/

[2] Burnette, Margarette (edited by Sara Clarke, co-written by Spencer Tierney, Chanelle Bessette, and Ruth Sarreal); “Average Bank Interest Rates for Savings Accounts, CDs and More”; NerdWallet; updated December 15, 2025; webpage accessed January 13, 2026; https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/learn/average-rates-for-deposit-accounts

[3] Bennett, Karen (edited by Pippin Wilbers, reviewed by Greg McBride); “Current CD rates for January 2026”; BankRate; December 23, 2025; webpage accessed January 13, 2026; https://www.bankrate.com/banking/cds/current-cd-interest-rates/

[4] “12-month percentage change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories, not seasonally adjusted”; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; webpage accessed January 13, 2026; https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-by-category-line-chart.htm

[5] “Deposit Insurance FAQs”; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; last updated April 1, 2024; webpage accessed January 13, 2026; https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/faq 

Lexington, KY, Most Tourist-Friendly U.S. City, Conde Nast Traveler Reader Survey States

Lexington, Kentucky, where I live, is the most friendly city in the U.S., according to a survey by Conde Nast Traveler [1] of its readers.

As a Lexington resident, I consider it a friendly place to live, not just a friendly city for tourists to visit.

Lexington is blessed to receive numerous visitors, as well as lots of outsiders moving into the city.

Lexington is home to Kentucky's top public university, the University of Kentucky. The city is located at the intersection of two major interstates (I-75 and I-64). Furthermore, Lexington attracts large numbers of visitors for its world-famous horse industry.

Horse Capital of the World

Lexington offers much. It calls itself the Horse Capital of the World. Indeed, the city contains several beautiful horse farms, the Keeneland thoroughbred race course, the Red Mile trotter race course, and the Kentucky Horse Park.

However, persons like myself who lack much interest in horse racing or horse farms find many other appealing things here.

My Love for Lexington

I was born and raised in small towns in southeastern Kentucky.  But I came to Lexington in 1976 for college at the University of Kentucky and fell in love with the city.

Parks, libraries, museums, and the numerous events one expects in a college town are part of the appeal.

The Tripadvisor website  [2] lists hundreds of things to do in Lexington. I wrote a few reviews on that website myself. I'm confident you'll find things listed that appeal to you.

With over 300,000 people, Lexington is large enough to offer much, but small enough to avoid the anonymity of most big cities 

Below is a photo of the Lexington city Christmas tree. You're welcome to call it either a Christmas tree or a holiday tree, but most of us seem to choose the former. A tree-lighting ceremony and Christmas parade are among the city's numerous annual events.

I do like the Lexington friendliness that doesn't seem to be as common in most larger cities and is probably lacking in many smaller ones.

This makes it a special place. However, I haven't traveled enough to judge how Lexington's friendliness ranks compared to other cities in the country.

Indeed, folks are probably friendlier in some small towns I grew up in. But  life and friendliness in small towns are different than in cities.

I do definitely consider folks in Lexington friendly. Residents and the city government both do much to help the homeless, to support charities, and to help visitors and newcomers feel welcome.

Indeed, many Lexington residents came from small towns. We seem to have brought our friendly, small-town atmosphere with us to some extent.

More About Lexington

The city is home to a diverse group of places of worship for various religions. But Lexington is welcoming to those who are not into traditional faiths. The city is blessed with diversity and tolerance.

Due to its history of having horse farms, tobacco farms, and other farms,  Lexington contains much greenspace. Few cities contain as much farmland and other preserved greenspace as Lexington.

I enjoy bicycling the scenic multi-use Legacy Trail, which is several miles long and includes areas near some farms.

Lexington is in Fayette County, Kentucky. Actually the city and county are merged together as one governing entity.

All of Fayette County is part of Lexington, including some beautiful rural farmland. This merger of city and county  is one reason for the city containing so much beautiful, scenic land that lacks  city-style structures on it.

The city of over 300,000 people is still small enough that the county sheriff's office provides escorts for funeral processions that stop traffic at intersections.

Final Thoughts

I'm happy and honored that my city earned the friendliest U.S. city title from Conde Nast Traveler.

The magazine's readers each enjoy their own reason(s) for their votes. And the Conde Nast Traveler survey is not a scientific study. But I'm hoping its results are reasonably accurate, not due to some form of ballot stuffing or other bias.

In my possibly biased opinion, Lexington is a great city to visit and to live.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Morton, Caitlin; "The 10 Most Tourist-Friendly Cities in the U.S. According to Our Readers"; Conde Nast Traveler; posted November 20, 2025, with the gallery updated later; webpage accessed January 12, 2026; https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/2015-08-11the-2015-friendliest-and-unfriendliest-cities-in-the-us

[2] "Top Things to Do in Lexington"; Tripadvisor; webpage accessed January 12, 2026; https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g39588-Activities-Lexington_Kentucky.html

Trump Seeks to Cap Credit Card Interest Rates at 10%: Not the Correct Approach

Credit card rates in the United States are too high overall. With inflation currently about 3%, it seems outrageous that credit card interest rates are often 20% or more.

Trump's Plan

I hope Trump’s proposal to cap credit card rates at a maximum of 10% annually for a year is aimed at getting card issuers to voluntarily take steps to lower the usurious rates. An Associated Press article [1] is one of many that discuss Trump’s plan.

I feel it is a mistake if Trump plans to issue an executive order (or ask Congress to pass a law) literally requiring credit card issuers to have a maximum 10% annual interest rate.

That's the wrong approach.

Problems With Trump's Plan

A basic principle of economics is that higher risk investments pay a higher rate on average.

Many credit card holders are good credit risks. A company could issue them a card with a 10% interest rate or less and make a nice profit.

However, other credit card holders are high risk for various reasons. If credit card companies were forced to charge them a maximum of only 10% interest annually, the card issuers would likely either cancel the cards or institute some other charge to compensate for the loss of interest income. Otherwise, the cards would be too risky, likely unprofitable.

If banks lose money, they can't stay in business. That's basic economics. Below is a photo of three economics textbooks I own.

In some case lenders refuse cards to persons who are poor credit risks. In other cases they compensate for the greater risk by offering cards with higher interest rates.

Unfortunately, those least able to pay the high interest are those most likely to be stuck with it.

And if their credit card is cancelled, they may be seeking payday loans or other methods of borrowing that contain higher costs than their current credit card interest rates that may be 18% to 30% or perhaps even more.

Credit Cards Are Profitable for Banks

Statistics can be interpreted different ways. Furthermore, it often takes a long time for the federal government to process and report data. Accurate current information is not available.

However, a November 2025 Federal Reserve report [1] indicated that credit card banks were more profitable in 2024 than in 2023. 

Furthermore, it noted that credit card issuing banks are generally more profitable than other banks, because credit cards are relatively profitable for banks compared to other things.

I'm confident banks can cut rates and be profitable. But requiring a maximum rate of 10% for everyone isn't realistic.

Alternatives to High-Interest Credit Cards

Persons holding credit cards with high interest rates can seek out another card if they are a good credit risk. Search online or make phone calls to find the best deals.

But read the fine print on any card application about charges for transferring balances, interest rates increasing after an introductory period, annual fees, etc.

Persons with poor credit can seek to avoid adding new charges by cutting costs using food stamps and local food pantries, downsizing to a smaller house or apartment, getting help with medical bills, doing better preventive care, etc.

Taking on an additional part-time job to help pay down debt, doing day labor or odd jobs, and getting a debt consolidation loan are all possibilities.

Unfortunately though, those with much high-interest debt and low income often face tough choices. In many cases they also have poor health, with medical bills being a large part of their credit card debt.

Seeking help from friends, relatives, neighbors, and government benefits are some possibilities if they can't find lower interest rates or jobs to increase income.

Avoid Credit Card Interest If Reasonable

The Federal Reserve report cited earlier states that surveys indicate over 60% of credit card holders "report they nearly always" pay their balance in time to avoid paying any monthly interest charge.

Even without interest charges, banks make money on some cards by charging cardholders an annual fee.

Also, each time a credit card is used, the retailer who accepts it as payment pays the credit card company a service charge too.

I've been blessed to pay my credit card bill in full each month for many years. I'd love it if everyone could.

But I sympathize with those who can't. I remember years ago when I couldn't. Maybe this article helps in some way those facing that situation now.

ENDNOTES:

[1]  Sweet, Ken and Seung Min Kim;  “Trump pushes a 1-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates and banks balk”; Associated Press; Updated 3:22 PM EST, January 10, 2026; webpage accessed January 11, 2026; https://apnews.com/article/trump-credit-cards-interest-rates-savings-banks-dba221f122789427c1c625ba873c9b71

[2] “Report to Congress: Profitability of Credit Card Operations of Depository Institutions”; Federal Reserve; November 2025; webpage accessed January 11, 2026; https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/ccprofit2025.pdf

 

Is the Bible Literally the Word of God?

If you're an atheist, you definitely feel the Bible is not literally the word of God and don't believe in God.

If you're a devout conservative Christian, there's a high probability that you do consider the Bible to literally be God's word.

But many others are uncertain about the truth. And for some, the answer depends on what one means by literally the word of God.

However, a 2022 Gallup poll [1] found "20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God."

Common Ground

There's some common ground even between atheists and the Christians who believe the Bible is literally the word of God.

For example, atheists acknowledge that many of the people named in the Bible actually existed. Archaeologists have confirmed the existence of many places described in the Bible. Independent historical records concur with the Bible in various ways.

There are even some sources outside the Bible that discuss Jesus, as noted by a History article [2], among many others. It seems reasonably well supported that Jesus existed and was memorable for what he accomplished.

Even among those who  claim the Bible is literally God's word, many state that parts of the Bible are told as parables, stories not to be taken as literally the truth.

Of course, there are also some atheists who claim to somehow know Jesus never existed, and some conservative Christians who take everything in the Bible to be literally true, including all of Jesus' parables.

Apparent Contradictions in the Bible

Numerous books discuss apparent contradictions contained in the Bible. They state that these contradictions prove that the Bible is not God's word.

However, numerous other books explain that these apparent contradictions are not really contradictions. They offer explanations to reconcile the apparent contradictions.

My View

Personally, I am a Christian. But I only read and write English. I've never read any of the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, which are apparently the original languages it was written in.

Furthermore, there are numerous English translations of the Bible. Also, the Catholic Bible contains certain books and parts of books that are not in the Protestant versions.

Even among my friends who consider the Bible to be 100% literally the word of God, there is disagreement about what it literally means. No two of them agree completely.

Personally, I don't call the Bible literally the word of God. After all, I know that the English translations we have today were translated by imperfect humans, and those who wrote the first written copies in other languages were imperfect humans.

Furthermore, the individuals who decided which particular writings would go into the Bible and which would be left out were fallible humans.

However, I am confident that on several occasions, when I've read the Bible prayerfully, that I've gained true insights from the highest righteous authority available to me, which I call God.

Below is a photo of several of the Bibles I own, including a book that reprints the Apocrypha in the King James Version (KJV). The earliest copies of the KJV contained the Apocrypha, but the Apocrypha was together in one place rather than in the particular books and locations it was in the Catholic Bible.

I've read the Bible three or four times, including once in the KJV and once in the New International Version. However, I am not a Bible scholar.

Closing Thoughts

There may be no way for humans to know for sure if the original Bible in its original languages was literally the word of God, since no original copies exist. If an original copy did exist, would we humans be able to understand it completely? I don't think so.

I do feel that when read prayerfully and interpreted properly, one can obtain blessings and insights from current translations.

Finally, I feel that those insights come from a power so much better than me that I choose to call that power God and those insights God's word.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Newport, Frank; "Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God"; Gallup; July 6, 2022; webpage accessed January 10, 2022; https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

[2] Klein, Christopher; "The Bible Says Jesus Was Real. What Other Proof Exists?"; History; February 26, 2019, last updated December 15, 2025; webpage accessed January 10, 2026; https://www.history.com/articles/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence

SNAP Food Benefits for Nutritious Items: Not Junk

SNAP food benefits are a blessing for the needy. I strongly support continuing SNAP.

However, I also agree with those who want to limit the benefit coverage to nutritious foods and drinks.

Far too much SNAP money is spent on carbonated soft drinks. These flavored, sweetened, carbonated sodas typically  offer few nutrients and lots of added sugars. They are not a healthy choice.

Similarly, a lot of SNAP money is expended on candy that typically has lots of added sugar, lots of calories, and few nutrients.

It's better if persons buy items like the bananas pictured below than processed junk foods and drinks.

Bananas purchased at a supermarket are even cheaper than much of the junk food and drinks people buy. At 60 cents per pound, a typical banana would cost less than 30 cents.

Suggested Food Stamp Restrictions

I support eliminating energy drinks, carbonated soft drinks, and other sweetened drinks with limited nutritional value from eligibility for buying with food stamps. I'll leave it up to the experts to decide on the specifics.

I also support eliminating most candies from eligibility for food stamps. I'd make an exception for dark chocolate with limited added sugar. And I'd urge food stamp recipients to consume that dark chocolate in moderation.

I'd also eliminate most store-bought cookies, cakes, and pies from food stamp eligibility.

United States Government Dietary Guidelines

I'm neither a dietician nor a medical professional, so I can't give dietary or medical advice. But the United States government's recently published Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 provides useful advice.

Among other things, those guidelines encourage the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein sources, dairy products, and whole grains.

The guidelines urge consumers to limit the intake of added sugars, highly processed foods, and saturated fats.

My Personal Perspective on the Guidelines

I basically agree with the federal government guidelines.

But I'm trying to adhere to a vegan diet. I use enriched, unsweetened soy milk in place of dairy products. I also eat lots of beans, nuts, and seeds, rather than consuming fish, poultry, or red meat.

And I confess I do indulge in buying and eating some things like potato chips and sweetened dark chocolate. But I aim at moderation.

I'm not on food stamps. But I'd support food stamps covering dark chocolate and potato chips. They are not as devoid of nutrients as carbonated soft drinks or candy that is almost all sugar.

Home Cooked Meals

We all have limited time.  Preparing nutritious, meals at home using whole wheat flour, whole grain corn meal, and dry beans soaked for several hours then cooked a couple of hours takes much time and effort. But it's worth it when time permits.

Cooking big batches of beans, vegetable soup, etc., then refrigerating (or freezing) leftovers to prepare later is a nice time saver.

Furthermore, though I support eliminating most store-bought cookies from food stamp eligibility, home-made cookies are different.

For example, home-made oatmeal-raisin cookies prepared with whole wheat flour and sweetened with applesauce can be a tasty, somewhat nutritious snack.

I sometimes sweeten my home-made cookies and home-made banana-walnut bread with 100% stevia which I order online. In my personal opinion 100% stevia is the best of the sugar substitutes. But I seek to limit my use of it too. I don't think it is nutritious. 

I'd allow 100% stevia to be purchased with food stamps. It may be better for our teeth and for diabetics than sugar, however, as noted earlier, I'm not a dietician or a medical professional and can't give dietary or medical advice. Also, note that most stevia products sold in supermarkets are not 100% stevia.

In general I think preparing beans, vegetables, and breads at home is better than buying them ready-to-eat. And I limit my bread baking to things like biscuits, corn bread, and other quick breads that don't require the time-consuming process of using yeast. But I commend those of you with the time and skill to successfully bake yeast breads from scratch.

U.S. Government Regulations on Food Stamp Junk Food Purchases

At the national level, purchase of junk food and drinks with food stamps is not limited.

However, federal officials have approved restrictions for 18 states that took effect earlier this year or will take effect later this year, according to a United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service webpage titled "SNAP Food Restriction Waivers that was last updated on January 2, 2026.

The specific limitations vary by state, as noted in the article linked to in the last paragraph.

I think it would be great if all states passed some type of similar restrictions, assuming the federal government doesn't make it mandatory for all states.

What do you think?

Disclosure: I work part-time as a store clerk in a retail store that sells candy and carbonated soft drinks, among many other things.

Is President Trump Abusing His Authority? Yes, In My Opinion

Yes, I firmly believe President Trump is abusing his authority. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not a Trump hater. I admire and respect him for his accomplishments as President--and there are many. I discuss some of them later in this article.

However, my emphasis in this blog post is on Trump's flagrant abuses of his power as President.

Greenland Is a Key Example

Trump's determination to acquire Greenland even if it takes military force is outrageous.

I concede that Greenland would be a nice addition to the United States. Greenland has much to offer.

But when and if Greenland ever becomes part of the U.S., it needs to happen only if the people of Greenland want it. If the people of Denmark also want Greenland to join the U.S., that's even better. Currently, neither Greenland nor Denmark seem to like the idea of Greenland joining the U.S. 

The U.S. cannot buy Greenland if it is not for sale. And the U.S. has no legal right to attack Greenland militarily to take it by force. Such an attack would violate international law, the United States Constitution, and common sense moral values.

An NBC News article and a Guardian article are two of the numerous ones online discussing Trump considering using military force to take Greenland. 

Any effort by Trump to take Greenland by force constitutes grounds for President Trump's impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives, then Trump's conviction by the Senate and his removal from office.

A Few More Cases of Trump Abusing His Authority: What To Do

Trump's abuse of power in enacting tariffs, stopping Venezuelan oil tankers, and using his power to get even with enemies are a few other examples of his numerous abuses. The list is long.

Trump needs to be controlled by his staff, Congress, and the Court system. Since he seems to emphasize hiring and retaining staff that will do as he desires, Congress and the Courts seem left primarily to take action.

Congressional Action

Democrats have taken less action than one would expect. Furthermore, some (many?) of their actions can be considered to be politically motivated. They are the opposition party.

Most Republicans in Congress seem unwilling to challenge Trump. The few that do often incur his wrath.

I'm proud to write that my home state of Kentucky's two Republican U.S. Senators are among  those most willing to oppose Trump. Rand Paul has a well-deserved reputation for being a maverick Republican willing to vote his personal views. Kentucky's Mitch McConnell also has prominently opposed Trump multiple times.

I urge readers to contact their U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives urging them to stand firm against Trump's excesses.

For Congress to pass laws against Trump's wishes requires a veto proof 2/3 majority in both chambers of Congress. Surely, we can get 2/3 of our Congressional members to pass legislation overturning some of Trump's ridiculous executive orders and reigning in his powers 

Furthermore, though the House can impeach Trump with just a majority vote, it requires a 2/3 majority in the Senate to convict him and remove him from office.

Still, I would hope that any effort by Trump to take Greenland involuntarily would constitute grounds for that removal.

Court Action

The Court system has taken action against Trump in some ways. But Trump seems to prevail surprisingly often in the United States Supreme Court.

Furthermore, a court typically only acts after a suit is filed. Then there is often a lengthy appeals process before a case gets to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Some of Trump's Accomplishments

I support many of Trump's actions during his two terms as President, though I sometimes disliked his method even in those cases.

Trump appointed pro-life Supreme Court justices that led to the overturning of Roe versus Wade. I'm pro-life.

During Trump's first term, the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products went up to age 21 from age 18. Many consider tobacco to be the #1 preventable cause of death. Raising the minimum age may help stop young people from adopting the tobacco habit.

Trump has sought to cut government spending and government waste, though the results are mixed.

He's tried to reduce healthcare costs by cutting abuses by large pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies. I'd like it if he also stopped cutting taxes for the rich to help reduce the federal debt, but at least he's doing something.

Trump's sought to end wars and conflicts in many places. Additionally, so far his military initiatives have not mired large quantities of U.S. soldiers in wars on foreign soil.

Even the removal of Venezuela's Maduro was a quick action that apparently cost no U.S. lives.  Though most probably disapprove of Trump's actions against Maduro, Maduro was widely viewed as an illegitimate leader.

I remain hopeful Trump will help Venezuela transition to a legitimate government that is good for Venezuela and the whole situation. And it would be great for Congress and the President to approve making payments to innocent civilian Venezuelans who suffered losses in the capture of Maduro.

Below is a photo of Trump on the White House lawn that I obtained from the White House website.  The date of the photo is unknown.

Final Thoughts

Trump cannot be called a do-nothing President. He has accomplished much. But he has also done much harm.

We the people, the Congress, the Court system, and his staff share a responsibility to correct Trump's excesses and errors, holding him accountable when necessary.

Trump enjoys many nice visions, dreams, and plans. But he is not God. He is not perfect. He is not a dictator.

His executive power needs to be properly controlled. Under God, let's all seek to control Trump.

Is a Weekly Sabbath Day of Rest Good? Do We Need That Day?

Is a weekly day of rest good for us? Do we need that?

Yes. Various studies indicate that we humans function better if there is at least one day a week that we rest, do things differently than we do on the other days.

Furthermore, studies indicate it is better if we take the same day each week for that day of rest.

You can read about these studies online if you choose to.

The Bible Commandment to Keep the Sabbath

The original concept of virtually everyone  taking the same day each week for rest from work probably comes from Judaism. Taking a weekly day for rest is also one of the Ten Commandments many Christians seek to keep.

I remember reading the commandment in the Bible. Keeping the Sabbath is discussed in multiple places in the Bible, but Exodus 20:8-11 is the passage that seems to me to discuss it best. The Bible Gateway website is one of many places you can read those verses.

That Exodus passage instructs the Jews to rest on the last day of the week, the seventh day, just as God rested on the seventh day after six days of creation.

Since this article focuses on taking a weekly day of rest, I won't get into Creationism, how the Earth and life on it formed and how long it took.

However, it's reasonable to consider the Bible commandment as the root of the Sabbath Day of rest as we know it.

Below is a photo of a King James Version Bible my dad and mom gave me when I was a boy, probably in the late 1960s. It was my first  Bible. I've acquired several others of different versions since.

United States Blue Laws Regarding Sunday

Many places in the United States used to have what were called blue laws requiring most businesses to be closed on Sunday, the day of rest for most Christians who practice a weekly day of rest. When I started college here  in Lexington, Kentucky, the city had a blue law.

The Lexington law that kept most stores closed on Sundays has been done away with. Blue laws in other cities have largely been abolished over the years too.

Perhaps it's interesting to keep in mind that though the Sabbath Day of Judaism and the Old Testament of the Bible is Saturday, the seventh day of the week, the blue laws considered Sunday to be the day for rest from work.

Closing Thoughts

Regardless of your religious faith or lack of religious faith, it seems advisable to get at least one day of rest weekly. And it's preferable that it be the same day for persons every week.

Furthermore, when all or most persons enjoy the same day(s) off weekly, it facilitates fellowship and various activities together with one another.

Obviously hospitals, police forces, fire departments, and some other organizations must operate 24 hours a day every day.

But it might be nice if more of us did enjoy at least one day off in common with others each week, and it was the same day every week.

NOTE: This article was last revised on January 8, 2026.