Contrary to popular belief, rules are not made to be broken. The mention of 'rules' raises in many people's minds the idea of something that interferes, something that stops you from having a good time. This perception is especially common when the rules in question are God's. God's commands have a nasty habit of constantly going against our natural inclinations, but they are designed to protect us, benefit us, and achieve the ideal outcome in a given situation.
Consider the example of working out a math problem: Obviously perfect arithmetic is the 'ideal'; you may inevitably make some mistakes in your calculations. But it would be absurd not to try for the ideal, as every error will undoubtedly cause you trouble later on. In the same way we ought to make the effort--through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit--to follow God's commands, because each failure is going to cause trouble for both ourselves and others down the road. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
After strengthening and encouraging the Israelites for their imminent conquest of the Promised Land, Moses set before the people the laws and decrees of the covenant God made with them at Horeb (Deut. 5:1-2). These 'rules,' known as the Ten Commandments, were given by a loving God as a means of protection, blessing, and guidance for His children.
"The Lord spoke to [Israel] face to face out of the fire on the mountain... And He said: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery'" (v. 6). God established who He was and what He had done for the Israelites as the basis of their response to Him and their relation to others. When we stand in awe of God's love, glory, and power, we will naturally desire to heed Him and honor His commands.
The first four commandments dealt with how Israel was to respond to God:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me. The Lord is not content with only a piece of our hearts, with only an hour or so of our time on Sundays, with only a portion of our lives--He wants it all! If we are living for anything other than Him, be it money, career, love or family, we are putting those things before God. Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:33, emphasis added). Commit yourself to the Lord wholeheartedly, and He will care for you!
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol... If we profess the Lord is our God, then He ought to be the sole object of our worship. An idol is anything we devote ourselves to outside of God. Health and wealth are popular idols. Emotions can be idols. So can 'causes' and 'callings.' We can idolize our spouses, our children, our friends, our pastors and our churches. The psalmist said, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing" (Ps. 16:2, emphasis added). Value God above all else, and He will be your reward and treasure!
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain... As followers of Christ, we are representatives of Him and witnesses to His atoning sacrifice for our sins (2 Cor. 5:20, 10:39-43). The idea of taking Christ's name 'in vain' means more than simply using profane language; it carries with it the weighty notion that we can be living futile lives as Christians, lives that are to no effect for the kingdom of God! Scripture speaks about pursuing a life of godliness, saying our efforts keep us from being "ineffective and unproductive" in our knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 1:8). Represent God with integrity, and He will make you effective and productive!
4. Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy... The author of Hebrews speaks of the promise of rest for God's people: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His" (Heb. 4:9-10). Rest is a proclamation that we can do nothing apart from God--He is in control! This rest extends from our practical labors to spiritual ones as well. It is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deut. 8:18), and it is God who works in us to act according to His good purpose (Phil. 2:13). Submit to God as the sovereign Lord, and He will transform your life to His glory!
The last six commandments addressed how the Israelites were to relate to others:
5. Honor your father and mother... Families are the foundation of society, and not to mention the church! The Bible says we are God's family--adopted children of our Heavenly Father (Jn. 1:12), and brothers and sisters in Christ (Col. 1:2). The family was established by God as the fundamental framework for human relations (Gen. 2:18); social strength and stability rise and fall with the level of commitment or neglect in individual homes. If we learn to respect authority in the home, beginning with our parents, we will extend that respect to our spouses, employers, government officials, and church leadership.
6. You shall not murder. The Bible tells us from the very first page of Genesis that all life begins with God, and man was specifically created in His image (Gen. 1:27). Even the most wretched human being on the planet is still an image-bearer of the Almighty God! In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raised the bar for this command saying, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder...' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matt. 6:21-22). If we respect life--from the unborn to the elderly--we will grow in love, compassion, and selflessness.
7. You shall not commit adultery. Marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship to the church. We are called His bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev. 21:9). We are solely committed to Christ and submitted to His authority. If we respect marriage by committing ourselves to our husbands and submitting to them as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22), we will flourish and the world will see Christ in us!
8. You shall not steal. King Solomon wrote, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work" (Ecc. 2:24, emphasis added). God intends for us to enjoy the fruits of our labor, not somebody else's! Economic systems, though imperfect, are in place so that we may be able to earn a living by working. Paul said, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thess. 3:10). If we respect livelihood--the means by which we secure the necessities of life--we will have a strong work ethic and satisfaction in our labors.
9. You shall not give false testimony... Our God is a just God--"Just and true are your ways, King of the ages..." (Rev. 15:3). He detests a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17). Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James identifies the fidelity of our words as the ultimate evidence of self-control and spiritual maturity (Jas. 3:2). If we respect truth and justice, we will uphold verity in our words and actions towards others.
10. You shall not covet... In Paul's letter to Timothy, he exhorts the young pastor to flee from the desire to get rich and the false notion that godliness is a means to gain (1 Tim. 6:5, 9). Possessions in and of themselves are not evil; it is the constant appetite for more and better and thrills that leads to sin and destruction, especially when we begin to lust after what rightfully belongs to someone else. "But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). If we respect personal property--what God sovereignly chooses to give us and others--we will find contentment and peace.
Moses concludes the recitation of God's law by telling Israel, "So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess" (Deut. 5:32-33).
The enemy's temptations are designed to cause us to veer off track--subtly at first, but as time goes on our trajectory leads us further and further from the path God intends for His people to walk. We must be careful not to reject God's commands; they are always for our benefit! And as we contemplate who Jesus is and what He has done for us, His love will guide our response to Him and shape our relation to others.
Lord, thank You for Your Word that guides us, protects us, and blesses us! Thank You for being a good Father who desires the best for His children. Help us to follow Your ways as an outward expression of love and devotion to You, and gratitude for everything You've done for us. And as we walk this path imperfectly, I pray You would pour out Your grace, love, and mercy on each and every step! Thank You for sending Your Son as the fulfillment of the law and our atoning sacrifice that we may be found righteous in Him. Grow us in Christlikeness as we dig into Your Word and submit to the transforming power of Your Holy Spirit in our hearts! In Jesus' name, amen.
Reflection Questions
3. What are some ways your life displays commitment to and value of God? How do you represent Him and submit to Him in day-to-day life?
4. Our society's respect for authority, life, and marriage is on a rapid decline. How can you uphold God's word lovingly in an increasingly hostile environment?