Do You Still Remember the Top Ten Rules Keeping You Out of Trouble?
I’ve encountered a number of young people recently who know nothing about the 10 Commandments. It’s not surprising, they understand little about right from wrong. Recently, I asked a number of people to name the 10. Most got 5 or fewer right. How many of God’s Top Ten can you name? What’s #5?
Some consider “rules” too limiting? But, they provide security, protection, reduce chaos and increase the chance for success everywhere when you obey the rules of cooking, driving and even in competition. In sports “not playing by the rules” (cheating) is never knowingly allowed.
Found in Exodus 3 and Deuteronomy 5 of the Bible’s Old Testament, here’s a brief overview. These are just God’s rules to help guide you to a long, satisfying life.
God’s TOP TEN!
10- Don’t covet! That’s a desire to obtain anything that belongs to your neighbor, including their spouse, employees, car, children, house, clothes, TV or anything of theirs.
9- Don’t lie! Especially don’t testify falsely against someone close to you. This is the same as the “Misspeaking” that politicians do.
8- Don’t steal! If it isn’t yours – don’t take it!
7- Don’t commit adultery! If you’re married, be true to your spouse. If you’re not, don’t sleep with someone else’s husband or wife. (The New Testament uses the same Greek word to describe ANY sexual activity outside of marriage. This includes same or opposite sex.)
6- Don’t murder! That includes 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, 4th degree, etc. Many have been told Don’t Kill. But that’s wrong. It’s “Don’t Murder.”
5- Honor your Father and your Mother! You’ll live a long and full life.
4- Keep the Sabbath day holy! Take 1 day a week to rest, dedicating it to the Lord.
3- Don’t misuse God’s name! Not just swearing with His name, but using it in any empty way.
2- Don’t worship idols! Anything more important to you than God is an idol. These include statutes, relationships, movie stars, cartoon characters, cars, clothes, etc.
And #1 on God’s 3400-year-old Top Ten List is –
1- Don’t worship any God but Him! (Actually, your hope is in no one else, so why would you!?)
Are there other things that really aggravate God?
Sure. Proverbs 6 lists some:
a) Pride – Don’t think too highly of yourself.
b) Lying – Even a little white lie is a LIE and He detests it.
c) Murder – Notice that “Pride” and “Lying” are higher on the list!
d) Plotting Evil
e) Being Eager to do Evil
f) A False Witness in a Trial – (Most Trials are filled with them.)
g) Sedition (Those who create discord in a family or country. Some call it Marketing.)
The Blessings and the Cursings
After the Top Ten, there are rewards and penalties in Deuteronomy Chapter 28. These will amaze you!
Jesus simplified all mankind’s complicated rules that grew out of God’s instructions with these words recorded in Matthew 22:37-40.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is equally important: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Therefore it’s important to love yourself as well.) All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.
No matter how you may have behaved or violated the top ten in the past, God still has a wonderful plan for your life. If you haven’t been obeying Him, why not pause now and start all over by acknowledging that Jesus died to wipe away all your sins. Dedicate yourself to following God and begin reading and accepting the over 3300 promises found in God’s Word – The Bible. Know this: God will never leave you or forsake you! Ever!
