Produce versus Consume

"Don’t sell your neighbor poorly made products." I just heard this phrase today as part of a translation of Martin Luther’s explanation to the commandment "Never Steal." Taking what is not yours is also understood as giving what is not the best. This is an incredible challenge! This challenges students who receive education but return poor work, this includes workers who don’t do their best even if they are not manufacturing some kind of item. We are forced to see that whenever we receive we give back the best using that gift (even compensation) giving our neighbor the best. This sets the bar high and should beg the question, if the best is expected in return for whatever I receive perhaps I should try to do my best with less, if the best is expected I should be prepared to recognize that I haven’t done that and be honest with God and seek a God-given solution, if the best is expected I should take an honest inventory of what I’m taking from others and change my way of life by the power that the Holy Spirit has promised to give.

A cup of cold water

A child asked me for a cup of cold water, I knew Jesus would want to give one to the child because he said so (Matthew 10:42).  So I went to fetch the water for the child.  At first I put the water in a plastic bottle but then I thought about the dangers of plastic and I didn’t want any cancerous toxins leaching into his water so I poured that out and put it aside, then I grabbed an old canteen but remembered I read about a connection between aluminum and alzheimers (glad I remembered that) so I poured that out and put it aside, then I saw styrofoam – nope, glass – not good for the road, leather?  - what if he doesn’t like drinking from an animal’s skin?, finally I went into the backyard and carved a cup from some soft stone – perfect.  Stone cup filled with cold water in hand I went to the door, the child was gone.

Rules, fears, warnings, political correctness, scientific data, we would all be frozen in fear unable to do anything.  Strange that we’ve made so many advances we would nearly be carving our cups from stone out of fear.  Sounds like a giant step forward, or are we back in the stone age?  

No wonder people don’t believe in absolutes anymore because the rules in the world, often supported by science, are constantly changing.  This is good for you, now it isn’t any longer.  Eat this it’s good for you, no it’s not.   This will make you healthy becomes instead “this will make you sick.”

God knows how we are built, from the smallest quantum particle to our human form, God made us.  There are some absolutes that God built into this little universe of ours, at least 10.  Not absolutes that freeze us in place avoiding this and that but commands that drive us to action.  Words like love, pray, rejoice, honor, support, improve, help and encourage become the groundwork of God’s people who respond to the gift of His Son Jesus Christ by living their faith in positive action to their neighbor.  

Hear the call – The Ten