Walk with Him: What’s Your Golden Calf Excuse?

Did you giggle when you read this whopper of a story? Aaron is telling Moses where the golden calf came from: “They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (NIV, Exodus 24-25).

I laugh at this outlandish excuse, but I’ve created some good ones myself when it comes to not keeping the Sabbath day holy. “I’m on vacation. Can’t I take one Sunday off to go skiing? Surely, since God created this great day of snow and sun, He would want me to enjoy it!” Even more common, “If I don’t do this work today, I’ll be behind. Surely, God doesn’t mind me catching up on my responsibilities!”

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). A timeless commandment that gives rest for our minds and bodies. A day to fill our Spirits and recommit. When excuses arise to spend it as a usual day, not a sacred day, remember the golden calf jumping out of the fire and ask yourself, “Who or what am I putting before God today?” or as President Nelson advises, “What sign do I want to give God today?”

“How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’ That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.” (President Russell M. Nelson)
“Think of this: In paying tithing, we return one-tenth of our increase to the Lord. In keeping the Sabbath holy, we reserve one day in seven as His. So it is our privilege to consecrate both money and time to Him who lends us life each day. Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God. A sacred Sabbath truly is a delight.” (President Russell M. Nelson)