Top Ten Lists

I don't know about you but I like watching programmes with top ten lists of things... here is the top of my list of funny thngs about George Bush:


READ Exodus 19:1-20:21

People like to argue about the ten Commandments. How relevant are they today? Can life really be that black and white? Isn't it just too simplistic?

But in all the arguments, most people miss the important point. The Ten Commandments are not just a list of "thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not". Perhaps that's the kind of prescribed religion many people want. But God isn't trying to start a religion; he's trying to build a relationship with his people (19:4-6)

It may help you to divide the commandments into three groups: The first four commandments centre on our relationship with God. There is only one God (20:3) and he wanrs us to accept no substitutes (20:4-6). We mustn't be too casual, or worse in refering to Him (20:7) And we must regularily honor and obey Him.

The second section is that He cares about our relationship with others. Before we can "love everybody" we need to start with our nearest - our parents (20:12) and spouses (20:14). Th patterns we develop here will affect all our relationships. Our challenge is to be truthful with our neighbours - easier said than done in a world of manipulation and compromise.

Finally God cares about our relationship to things. A willingness to steal (20:15) begins when we aren't content with what we have (20:17)The desire for more is a strong motivator that can pull us away from God (1 Timothy 6:6-10). If people had a right relationship with God, others and things the world would be a different place.