• 马太福音 6:24-34

论上帝和钱财

24“一个人不能服侍两个主；他不是恨这个爱那个，就是重这个轻那个。你们不能又服侍上帝，又服侍玛门。”

不要忧虑

25“所以，我告诉你们，不要为你们的生命忧虑吃什么喝什么，或为你们的身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗？身体不胜于衣裳吗？ 26你们看一看那天上的飞鸟，也不种也不收，也不在仓里存粮，你们的天父尚且养活它们。你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗？ 27你们哪一个能藉着忧虑使寿数多加一刻呢？ 28何必为衣裳忧虑呢？你们想一想野地里的百合花是怎么长起来的：它也不劳动也不纺线。 29然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的还不如这些花的一朵呢！ 30你们这小信的人哪！野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，上帝还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢？ 31所以，不要忧虑，说：‘我们吃什么？喝什么？穿什么？’ 32这都是外邦人所求的。你们需要这一切东西，你们的天父都知道。 33你们要先求上帝的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。 34所以，不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑；一天的难处一天当就够了。”

• 出埃及记 32:1-4

金牛犊

1百姓见摩西迟迟不下山，就聚集到亚伦那里，对他说：“起来！为我们造神明，在我们前面引路，因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭遇了什么事。” 2亚伦对他们说：“你们去摘下你们妻子、儿女耳上的金环，拿来给我。” 3众百姓就摘下他们耳上的金环，拿来给亚伦。 4亚伦从他们手里接过来，用模子塑造它，把它铸成一头牛犊。他们就说：“以色列啊，这是领你出埃及地的神明！” 5亚伦看见，就在牛犊面前筑坛。亚伦宣告说：“明日要向耶和华守节。” 6次日清早，百姓起来献燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起来玩乐。

“当人们见摩西迟不下山，就聚集到亚伦那里，对他说，“起来！为我们做神像，可以在我们前面引路。”（出埃及记 32:1）

400年。以色列人用400年来等候神带领他们脱离奴役。但他们离开埃及后，神并没有直接把他们带到迦南地。反而让他们在山脚下扎营等待神把指令给摩西。

40天之后，以色列人就感到不耐烦了。他们迟迟不来的期盼促使他们做出了坏决定：他们拒绝了神并去追求他们的欲望。

若是你为了某些未知数造成的拖延而感到灰心丧气的话，你不是唯一有此经验的人。我们的心往往会被失望占据而因此忘了神仍在掌权。所以至关重要的是切记你的等候绝对不是枉然的 。

以色列人当时虽然看不到，但实际上神并没有拖延他的应许——他是在为了他的应许而装备他们。

所以，如果你在等待中感到倦累，不要像以色列人一样：要追溯神同在的踪迹，回顾他为你已经成就的。神的时间表可能跟你的不同，但他的信实绝不动摇。你眼前的等待可能就是神在装备你来完成他为你打造的计划和目的。

反思问题：

你手上有什么东西是你必须要放下，但却紧抓不放的？

神曾在你生命中那些方面体现了他的信实？

在你目前的人生阶段，神可能在准备让你经历什么呢？

• 花点时间向神献上感恩与祈求

• Matthew 6:24-34

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

• Exodus 32:1-4

The Golden Calf

1When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us.” - Exodus 32:1

400 years. That’s how long the Israelites waited for God to deliver them from slavery. But after they left Egypt, God didn’t take them directly to Canaan. Instead, they camped at the base of a mountain while God instructed Moses.

But after 40 days, the Israelites grew frustrated. Their delayed expectations led to poor decisions: they rejected God and pursued whatever pleased them.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by an uncertain season that lasts longer than you anticipated, you’re not alone. We can become so focused on our disappointments that we forget God is still in control. That’s why it’s important to remember that your waiting is never wasted.

Even though the Israelites couldn’t see it at the time, God wasn’t withholding His promises from them—He was preparing them for it.

So, if you find yourself weary from waiting, do what the Israelites forgot to do: look for evidence of God’s presence, and look back on what He’s already done. God’s timeline may be different than yours, but His faithfulness doesn’t waver. Your waiting might be preparing you for the plans and purposes God has for you.

Reflection Questions:

What have you held onto that you know you need to surrender?

In what ways has God been faithful in your life?

What might God be trying to show you in your current season?

• Take a moment to give thanks and prayers to God