For society to rid itself of the Ten Commandments isn’t merely a way of getting rid of God but it is a way of turning our world into a place that is more and more filled with lovers of self.
Why? Because the Ten Commandments teach us how to love not only God but also people.
In the previous post we already looked at the first four commandments as those which teach us how to love God. Now we turn our attention to the remaining commands to learn how to love people.
Which of the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20 teach us how to love people?
Command #5: Honor your father and your mother … (Ex. 20:12)
Loving people begins with our earliest of relationships, that of a parent and child, whether biological or adoptive. If we don’t learn to honor those who love us and care for our well-being, even when we disagree with them, certainly such disrespect will transfer over into other relationships. Love does not dishonor others (1 Cor. 13:5).
Command #6: You shall not murder. (Ex. 20:13)
To love people is to value life. Each person’s life matters. It is not for us to judge who lives and dies. To love people is to forgive them and not take vengeance into our own hands. Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5). Rather, we entrust ourselves, and them, to God for Him to do what is right and best for all.
Command #7: You shall not commit adultery. (Ex. 20:14)
Committing adultery speaks to being unfaithful in the most committed relationship God ordained between two people. True love is not self-seeking (1 Cor. 13:5) so even when the relationship is strained, we remain true to that commitment. Love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:7).
Command #8: You shall not steal. (Ex. 20:15)
To steal is to to “wrongly take and use” something that does not belong to you (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, stealing wrongs another person because we are taking what belongs to them. True love does the opposite. It protects (1 Cor. 13:7). At first glance we might say this command refers to having respect for other people’s property. Keep in mind, that we can steal other things like their time by wasting it, like their dignity by belittling them, like the honor that is due them by claiming credit for their idea or accomplishment, etc. Parents can even steal their child’s emotional well-being by not caring for them as they should.
Command #9: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Ex. 20:16)
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Cor. 13:6) Consequently, if we love someone, we turn away from slandering them or making them look bad before others. We don’t ruin someone’s reputation just to make ourselves look good or to get what we want.
Command #10: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, … or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Ex. 20:17)
Coveting leads to nothing but relational problems, all of which demonstrate a lack of love. — “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” (James 4:2) We need to learn to genuinely be glad for what others have, not jealous of their relationships or property for “love does not envy” (1 Cor. 13:4).
The Ten Commandments began by teaching us how to love God. When we learn to love Him, fulfilling these commands that teach us how to love people tends to fall into place because love for people flows out of our love for God.
Don’t think it’s that big of deal if people want to remove monuments of 10 commandments.
Paul, to be sure, the removal of monuments of the 10 commandments is not the real issue. Rather, the heart condition behind it is what should concern us. Getting rid of the Ten Commandments in our society began long before people decided they wanted monuments and murals of them removed.
I read this after reading “10 Commandments Teach How to Love God.” Thank you for enlightening and strengthening me today.
So glad it’s been helpful, Suzanne!