The first four commandments relate to loving God.
The first four commandments aren’t profound. What they do, however, is reorient our entire existence around God instead of around ourselves. And this really is the difference between the authentically spiritual Christian and the unbeliever. It begins with the first commandment.
First, instead of blowing God off or relegating him to the fringes of our life, we acknowledge God’s existence and his activity in our world. Exodus 20:2-3 (NIV) tells us, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."
Second, instead of living for self-pleasure, we bring pleasure to God by acknowledging his will in each area of our lives. Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV) says, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Third, instead of making a name only for ourselves, we make God famous. We seek to enhance his name and reputation in everything we say and do. Exodus 20:7 (NIV) says, "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for theLORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."
Fourth, we set apart one day in seven as a weekly holi-day, or holy-day that we spend with God in worship. Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV) says, "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. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
The authentically spiritual Christian thinks about God continually. His love for God is reflected in even the smallest acts. One of their highest priorities is that everyone aroundhim comes to know the saving name of God. You will findhimalone with God in his word, in prayer, in quiet reflection, in joyful rest, in heartfelt worship, and in community with God’s people. Friends, this is how we are to be different from the world. The world doesn’t consider God, not in any way. But it’s to be different with us.
The last six commandments show how we're to love God in our everyday relationships.
A few weeks ago on Father’s Day, you were introduced to fifth commandment. My father-in-law, Don Green, preached on honoring your father and mother. The first four commandments relate to loving God. The last six commandments show how we're to love God in our everyday relationships.
Commandment five is found in Exodus 20:12 (NIV). "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land theLORD your God is giving you."
Some of the young people who went to Haiti saw the value of parents. In many third world countries the family structure has disintegrated. Parents are absent. Older children look after younger children. Because there isn’t a stable family structure, common sense, knowledge, and values that we take for granted do not get passed down through the generations. As a result, many children die of ordinary diseases that come from poor hygiene, unhealthy diet, or unclean drinking water. Others suffer the consequences of sexual immorality.
As a child your parents taught you about God. They taught you how to make good moral choices. By their example they taught you not to drink out of a dirty puddle of water, etc. Your life expectancy grows to the degree that you listen to and honor your parents and grandparents. Life is too short and life is too precious for you to wreck your body and soul learning all the lessons of life from scratch. This fifth command encourages us to see our parents as the gift they truly are.
You shall not murder.
This morning we turn our attention to the sixth commandment. It is very easy to remember. Exodus 20:13 (NIV) says, "You shall not murder." In Jesus’ day the religious leaders made the mistake of interpreting this commandment too narrowly. Even today we are guilty of the same. If 100,000 people were in this room, only a few would ever go so far as to murder another person.
So we need to ask ourselves this question. Was this commandment written for a handful of would-be murderers or was it written for all of society? What is the principle behind this commandment?
In Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus applied this commandment to interpersonal relationships. It isn’t just the act of murder that is in view here, it’s the thoughts and attitudes leading up to murder that are of concern. It’s things like harboring anger, vengeful thinking, insulting others, name-calling, bitterness, not forgiving or showing mercy, and not pursuing reconciliation. If interpreted in this way, it applies to all of us! Jesus speaks to the attitude we sometimes have whereby we treat others just as if we wanted them dead.
Matthew 5:21-26 (NIV) says,"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder', and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell."
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
Later in Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV) Jesus speaks about the attitude we are to have toward those we hate, such as our enemies."You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Do not devalue life either by word or deed.
The principle behind the commandment, "You shall not murder" is that we are to see all of human life as precious and sacred. No human life is to be devalued, whether by word or by deed.
Recently there was a woman jogging on a local bike trail when a young Hispanic male attacked her with a knife. His intention was to rape her, but thankfully she managed to fend him off and call for help. Her hand was cut, but she got away with her life. I was on the bike trail the other day and noticed several women joggers with their husbands or boyfriends in tow.
But then I saw a young Hispanic male walking on the wrong side of bike trail, alone in the general area where the stabbing probably took place. As I rode by I locked eyes with the young man and the thought crossed my mind, "Was it someone like him?"
But just as quickly I asked myself, "What does it mean that every person is child of God, created in God’s image? What does it mean that every life is precious and sacred? Do we value the dignity and humanity of the alien or stranger? Of the Hispanic, whether legal or illegal? Of the Muslim wearing a head dress? Of the criminal? The elderly? The minority? The disabled? The unborn child? What attitudes or stereotypes of hate do we nurture in our thoughts?"
We lie to ourselves and to God when we say these attitudes and stereotypes do not exist. Even the slightest insult, "Raca,empty head,fool", is evidence we break this command. Pay very close attention to your words. Do your words rob another person of their humanity?
- It’s the doctor who refers to an unborn child as a fetus or the mother who destroys her child in name of choice.
- It’s the patriotwho hides his or her racism with slurs against Muslims, Hispanics, enemy combatants, or a hundred other such phrases.
- It’s the self-righteous moralist who labels people by their moral behavior while withholding the love of God, and refuses to believe in the possibility of another’s redemption.
- It’s the smug employee or supervisor who sees everyone around him or her as worthless because they don’t produce or fit the culture or meet some expectation.
- It’s the over-zealous police officer with the hostile glare and the short temper who provokes and harasses our youth.
First comes thoughts, then words, then deeds. The height of human arrogance is that we deem certain human life (i.e. our own, and people like us, and people who believe like us) more sacred than other human life. Are you listening to your thoughts? Are you listening to your words?
In our congregation, many of you have served in the armed forces and in foreign wars. We thank you for your service on this weekend. What a burden you often carry, knowing that you have taken another human life in an act of war. In scripture the command, "You shallnot murder" applies to interpersonal relationships. It does not apply to civil authorities which God has instituted to serve and protect society. In the Old Testament there are provisions for capital punishment, and even for "just" war.
Those who send our young men and women into war carry the greatest responsibility in the eyes of God. The rules of engagement exist to protect the soldier. They outline the basis for the taking of another human life. Even then, accidents can happen. Innocence can be taken. The key issue for every person is, "Do you value the sanctity of every human life?"
Our veterans and civil servants are among the greatest respecters of human life because they’ve seen firsthand the horrors of war. They’ve seen the fruit of murderous thoughts and attitudes escalated into the taking of human life. May God’s grace be with you for what you have seen and experienced.
May we all guard our hearts and value human life.