Worldview

We are all prone to think of our “neighbor” in the comfortable circle of those whom we already love. It is easy to define neighbor to include our close friends at church, the next-door neighbor who watches over our house when we are away, the coworker who shares our viewpoints, and the people with whom we enjoy socializing. But what about the family on the other side of the street with the barking dog? What about the coworker who is continually gossiping about other coworkers? What about the one person who always seems to ask the wrong question at the wrong time? What about people from a different cultural background than ours? Are these our “neighbors” too?

We live in a day of rampant selfishness. Politicians are suspected of advancing their own interests for political power. Union labor strikes demonstrate distrust between employers and employees. Wars, crime, and acts of terrorism are daily reminders that we are living in a world where men and women do not love their neighbors. In contrast to the selfish culture in which we live, as God’s children we are commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

The hills of Scotland have afforded a lovely playground for many generations of young Scottish lads and lasses. In the midst of the heather growing on the wind-swept hills, the lowing of the Highland cattle, the bluebells dotting the land, and the craggy ruins of ancient castles inciting curiosity, all provide an enticement to exploration that is irresistible for a little boy.

Are our works motivated by the love of God that we have received and experienced, or are we doing good deeds from a sense of religious obligation in an attempt to earn God’s favor? The latter is iniquity; the former is a manifestation of knowing Jesus and His love.

A young Babylonian general and royal prince named Nebuchadnezzar had recently defeated the Egyptian forces at the Battle of Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Following this brilliant victory in 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar marched his victorious army through the various subjugated provinces, demanding tribute and taking captive promising young men who could be trained and eventually serve as local officials in the expanding Babylonian Empire. During the final, tragic days of the Judean monarchy, a young Hebrew prince named Daniel was one of those taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar’s conquering army.

The truth is not merely what we speak; it is also what we live. Those around us are able to see our hypocrisy very clearly when the way we live does not match the way we speak. The words testimony and witness both come from the same word in the original languages of the Bible. In reflecting upon the ninth commandment—“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”—we must realize that a man’s testimony and a man’s witness should be one and the same thing, not a “false witness” but a living testimony of the truth.

The prophets of Israel played an important role in exposing the deceptions of their day and pointing God’s people to the truth. Today, we still need faithful men who are willing to counter the evil that comes from falsehood in all areas of life. “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).

Marriage is God’s first human institution. Before He instituted the state or the church, God first made the family. When the Creator took the rib of Adam and fashioned Eve as a “help meet” for Adam, He said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It would be wise for us to recognize God’s purposes and His right to determine how marriage should function.

The sixth commandment—“Thou shalt not kill”—embraces much more than the prohibition of murder. On the positive side, God’s Law calls for the upholding of life; the deliverance of the oppressed; the kind treatment of strangers, orphans, and widows; and the defense of the innocent. These positive truths are amplified throughout the law of Moses and the prophets.

Death is a tragic consequence of the fall of man. When Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, they were placed in the Garden of Eden and told that if they disobeyed God’s command, they would “surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Little did they realize how ugly death would be! Of the first two sons born to Adam and Eve, the first killed the second. It is a sad testimony of consequence to humanity that the first man ever born on earth was a murderer!

Obedience from the heart requires a great deal of humility. Sometimes we must set aside our own opinions and personal preferences in order to honor our parents. But isn’t this the key to every successful relationship? Doesn’t a husband have to lay aside personal preferences to honor his wife? Doesn’t a wife often make sacrifices for her husband? Doesn’t a good parent set aside pleasures and hobbies to spend time with his children? Learning to honor our parents will yield blessings in every relationship. More importantly, our obedience in this matter of the fifth commandment is “well pleasing unto the Lord.”

The second commandment calls our attention from the graven images and man-made gods of earth to the invisible Creator in Heaven. In a similar manner, Paul’s exhortation urges us to look away from the things of earth that distract us and to look upward to the throne of God, where Christ is seated. Rather than looking at what we see with our physical eyes, the Lord is calling us to look with eyes of faith and see that the Lord Jesus Christ is central to all of life.

When we are preoccupied with these misplaced priorities, we become anxious about the things of this world. Jesus pointed His disciples to consider the grass of the field and to observe the birds of the air. On the basis of this confident trust in the caring, sufficient provision of our Father, Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Because the centurion was under the authority of the emperor, he had the emperor’s authority over those under him. The centurion realized that God’s Kingdom was also structured with a chain of command—the man realized that because Jesus was under God’s authority, He had God’s authority over the spiritual realm.

Can you play in a championship football game just because you are a good football player? What if you’ve practiced every day and are the best player you know? It seems like a silly question—there are obviously certain criteria that must be met, the first of which is actually being a member of the team! Skill, or your own estimation of yourself, doesn’t automatically get you on the team or in the “big game.” Many people have a similar approach in regard to their eternal destiny. When you come to the end of your life, will “being good” (or even being better than everyone else you know) be enough to enter God’s Heaven? It doesn’t need to be guesswork. We know the exact criteria required to spend eternity in Heaven as part of God’s team. The Bible shows us the way!

There are those that send out the message: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you are under the Law. You are not obligated to keep commandments because you are under grace. You have freedom in Christ.” . . . Yet Christ Himself said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Wisdom is seeing the hand of God in every experience of life. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

Discernment is the ability to distinguish between good and evil, in order to make wise decisions. When God told Solomon to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon asked for discernment.

Truthfulness is communicating by life and word that which is genuine and accurate. There is power in truth, because it is the very essence of God and the means by which He carries out His work in the world.

Birthmarks, disabilities, perceived blemishes, “defects,” or abnormalities cause us to ask searching questions. Why would a loving, all-powerful Creator God allow imperfections to exist?