阅读经文 

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。

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.