“当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你神当守的安息日。” - 出 20:8-10

神给我们的时间，贯穿我们生命的始终，都不是我们自己的。

然而，许多人有一种傲慢的观念，认为时间是属于他们自己的，所以他们应该能够随心所欲地花费时间。如果有人“浪费”他们的时间，他们就会不高兴。但时间并非我们可以“花费”的商品。

神以安息日休息为结果，在一周中创造了万物。这并不是因为神在六天的创造之后筋疲力尽了。神命令休息是为了使我们能够享受祂的创造，并尊荣在其中赐予我们生命的那一位。因此，每个星期我们都应该享受这一天，把我们自己的工作放下，在神的创世奇工中欢庆。

今天有很多人认为这个命令无关紧要。他们认为自己的工作太重要了，以至于取代了神的安息日命令。事实并非如此。在神里面安息和欢庆提醒我们，世界不在我们的掌控中。

我的一些亲戚在芝加哥地区拥有超市。他们的商店在周日不营业。他们以这种方式表明他们爱神胜过爱钱。他们和他们的员工享受安息日——记念神的休息。神使他们生意兴隆，祂也会同样对待凡遵守祂安息日的人。

祷告

主啊，感谢你给我们的时间。也感谢你每周提醒我们，时间不是我们自己的。祈求你在耶稣里祝福我们。阿们。

希伯来书 4:1-11

1我们既蒙留下有进入他安息的应许，就当畏惧，免得我们中间或有人似乎是赶不上了。
2因为有福音传给我们，像传给他们一样。只是所听见的道于他们无益，因为他们没有信心与所听见的道调和。
3但我们已经相信的人得以进入那安息，正如神所说：“我在怒中起誓说：‘他们断不可进入我的安息。’”其实造物之工，从创世以来已经成全了。
4论到第七日，有一处说：“到第七日神就歇了他一切的工。”
5又有一处说：“他们断不可进入我的安息。”
6既有必进安息的人，那先前听见福音的因为不信从，不得进去，
7所以过了多年，就在大卫的书上又限定一日，如以上所引的说：“你们今日若听他的话，就不可硬着心。”
8若是约书亚已叫他们享了安息，后来神就不再提别的日子了。
9这样看来，必另有一安息日的安息为神的子民存留。
10因为那进入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工，正如神歇了他的工一样。
11所以，我们务必竭力进入那安息，免得有人学那不信从的样子跌倒了。

Our Time Is Not Our Own

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God." - Exodus 20:8-9

God gives us the time we have, from the beginning to the end of our lives. It is not our own.

Many people, however, have the arrogant notion that time is their own, so they should be able to spend it as they wish. They get upset if someone “wastes” their time. But time is not a commodity we get to “spend.”

God built creation with Sabbath-rest as its goal. This was not because God was exhausted after six days of creation. The rest that God commands is for us so that we can enjoy his creation and honor the one who gives us life within it. So each week we should enjoy a day of rejoicing in God’s work while setting our own work aside.

Plenty of people think that this command is inconsequential today. They believe their own work is so important that it supersedes God’s Sabbath command. It does not. Resting and rejoicing in God remind us that we are not in control.

Some of my relatives own supermarkets in the Chicago area. Their stores are not open on Sundays. In this way they show they love God more than money. They and their employees enjoy a Sabbath-rest in honor of God. God has prospered them and will do so for all who keep his Sabbath.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the time you give us. Thank you too for reminding us each week that time is not our own. Bless us, we pray, in Jesus. Amen.