Theos Monos Sophos – The Only Wise God
Every blogger knows that the best way to get readers’ eyes on your writing is to come up with a good “how-to” post. People are dissatisfied with their lives, their relationships, their bodies. They want to make more money, have more fun, tame their toddler. You name the problem and a good way to bring in your niche is with a short, pithy list of tips. Ten seems to be a popular number of suggestions. There is even an entire website entitled, 10ways.com (not putting a link because they seem to know it will draw traffic for a lot of advertisements), but a search for “10 ways to…” will bring up a very long list of results.
It’s ironic then that there is so much backlash against the Ten Commandments. As with everything, God Himself was the originator and first to publish—in stone, no less—a ten item list of ways to live a better life FOREVER! You can read the original at Exodus 20:3-17, but the short version is:
- Put God first.
- Don’t make or worship fake gods.
- Don’t take the Lord’s name lightly.
- Take time to stop each week and honor God.
- Listen to your parents.
- Don’t kill people.
- Don’t fool around with other people’s spouses.
- Don’t steal stuff.
- No lying.
- No wanting what belongs to someone else.
If that seems like too much to remember, Jesus boiled it down to just two: Love God with all you’ve got and love other people just as much as you love yourself (Mathew 22:37-40).
God is the definition of wisdom, so why do we resist His 10 Rules for a Great Life, yet take advice from some unknown nincompoop on the internet?
Maybe it is because they are framed as “commandments.” Let’s try a refresh on our approach to God’s Law. Heaven is not won or lost by following it. It was given to help us live our best lives here on earth. Our salvation was won by Jesus on the Cross while we were still mired in our sin. Jesus said it is those who believe in Him who are saved. He came to pay the penalty for law breakers. Obedience doesn’t buy your ticket to Heaven, but if you decide that God is true, if you agree that He is wise, loving, and good, if you are seeking a path to a better life, why would you resist His direction?
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 lays it out clearly. When you love God, listen to His wise counsel, and hold fast to Him, He will be your Life—an abundant, long, and satisfying life.
That’s a big promise! Can your favorite internet guru make such a boast?
What do these verses show you about the nature of God?
Cool Like Christ 