Morality

Humanity’s One Duty

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Ecclesiastes 12:13

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

The Book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon near the end of his life. The book is an overview of his search for life’s meaning and purpose. Yes, the book was written some three thousand years ago. But his observations and conclusions are still practical today as they were back then.

He answers such questions as: What is there to gain in this lifetime? Where does one best invest their time and energy? How does one live a more productive life? Who are the most important people you need to listen too? When is the best time to pursue your goals? Why life matters?

One of the most important topics he discusses is God’s involvement in your life. He answers from a life time of living with God and also rebelling against HIM. He leaves you with a greater insight into your own story. He doesn’t mince words.

His views are like a scientist analyzing the results of a sixty-year study on human behavior. From birth to death, he sorts through God’s relationship with humanity and humanity’s relationship with God. His research takes him viewing how God and time and chance are both occurring throughout life. He views and explains the unfair outcome of people’s lives. From birth to the grave, he states his case and leaves the reader with the conclusion of the matter.

Man’s main responsibility to fulfill in this life is to fear God and observe HIS commandments. To fear God means to acknowledge HIS authority and final word on any matter. That our allegiance places HIM first on all matters. HE is King above Kings and rules everyone. HE deserves are utmost respect and worship.

Because of who HE is, we acknowledge HIS superior wisdom. Thus, we practice HIS decrees for how to best maintain relationships with each other. His ten commandments highlight the means to have a healthy relationship with HIM and others. A society that practices such behavior will only need a small governing structure to handle legal matters. There would be greater trust and security in the land.

Solomon’s final conclusion as king wasn’t for more government involvement to produce fear into the people. Instead, his recommendation is for each person accepted personal responsibility. To respect the authority of God Almighty and follow HIS teachings. When done, life for themselves and the society around them would flourish in freedom and prosperity. Along the way, you would also find meaning and fulfillment.  

Nothing has changed since then in regards to human behavior. But today, we have the knowledge and a greater relationship with God Almighty through Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit residing in us. We have a greater understanding and insight of HIS Word along with historical lessons. How much greater is the time we live now than then? What happens when one combines the teaching of this book with Jesus’s gospel message and purpose? One gains a greater perspective of the physical and spiritual dynamics at work.

Fear God may be an old-fashion expression. But like many old-fashion disciplines, maybe it is time to be again reintroduce into the world.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Moral Perfection

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

Matthew 5:48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What is your standard of morality? How do you determine what is good? Who establishes the moral compass in your life? Where do you discover the best moral practices for your life? Why is morality even important?

We live in a time of vast knowledge and accomplishments. Today’s enterprises make past historical periods obsolete. Whether science, technology, agriculture, construction, medicine, education, or commerce, every field of study has made an immense contribution to the human experience. Yet people still cannot get along with each other. Nations still go to war with other countries. Couples who yesterday could not live without each other, now hate and despise one another. And even family members and next-door neighbors rarely speak with those closes to them.

Generally speaking, as a people, we are highly knowledgeable of the material world around us. But at the same time, we are spiritually blind and depressed. We are the outcome of our own doing but blame others around us for our problems. We willingly accept the lies thrown our way because they make us feel in control and important. Instead of accepting a universal standard which works for all sides, we rather fight for our “rights” as we determine what those “rights” are. Justice is subjective to our ideal. There is no objective criteria everyone can agree too.

Enter Jesus.

When HE arrived on the scene the Roman empire was in power. Beside the Jewish community, the religious establishments included Caesar as lord, houses of sexual worship, and many other gods for your choosing. Entertainment included large crowds gathered to watch lions slaughter humans, and athletes fighting each other to the death. A world where the strong devoured the weak.

Under such a domain Jesus came along and began to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. His teaching was revolutionary for the people and culture of the time. The same is still true today.

When HE set the goal of moral perfection based on HIS heavenly Father as the objective standard of measurement, HE blew apart the minds of his listeners. They were satisfied with their self-righteous attitude keeping the Law given to Moses. Jesus not only emphasized the behavior aspects but also raised the bar to include one’s attitude and mental thought. Who could live up to such a standard?  

Jesus’ set the bar very high for his disciples: Perfection as measured by God Himself.

Impossible, you say?

Do you think Jesus would expect something from his students that they couldn’t achieve?

The bar is high because God’s purpose for you and I is higher than we can imagine.

God’s macro-objective is to raise a family who will join HIM in his work of governing a universe. He expects HIS children to imitate HIM throughout the world. And HE always provides the means and resources for HIS people to abide and fulfill HIS desires.

For those who accept HIS vision and purpose, HE provides HIS Spirit and strength to live within you. As we submit to HIS authority, yielding our carnal desires to HIS divine nature, HE leads us toward a fuller life patterned after Jesus Christ.

Our goal is to become perfect in relationships with HIM and all those around us. HE becomes our universal standard of perfection. We model our life around (Eph 5:1) HIM. When others join HIM in the same quest, the world becomes more reflective of HIS attributes and less prone to chaos, confusion, and evil.

We cannot become perfect unless HIS perfection lives in us. HE is the goodness we seek and yearn after. When HE is allowed to live HIS life in us and through us, we will then see the road to perfection become real. Until then, we are fooling ourselves and destructively playing god in his place.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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Morality     

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Morality is the glue that allows humanity to function in freedom, to flourish, and find fulfillment in life. But morals built on human preferences rather than Godly character destroys lives and causes destruction between people and tribes and nations.

Morality is built upon values. When values become distorted and are rearranged in priority for a few elitists, harm falls upon the majority of remaining people. Healthy values are God-given and are objective for all people to adhere too.

The most life changing values ever expressed are found in the Bible. Initially the Old Testament reveals the Ten Commandments. These 10 values prioritize the boundaries and conditions of how people can best live independently and collectively for the sake of all. When one of these values are broken, people suffer. The sufferer may be an individual, a couple, a group, or a large community, but someone is always hurt when one of these values are ignored.

In the New Testament, Jesus expanded on these Ten with an emphasis on the attitude and spirit rather than just on the outer behavior.    

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses wrote how keeping these Ten along with the policies and principles built from these Ten, one could successfully live within a culture and prosper as a family, tribe, and nation. Though this promise was to Israel when they were about to enter the promise land after 400 years of slavery, the same words apply today. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Whether you are a Gentile or Jew from birth, Jesus Christ has united us into one race – the human-to-become-eternal race.   

Let’s learn from the historical Biblical records of yesterday rather than repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Ignorance isn’t bliss when reality hits you in the face. The Biblical nation of Israel has a long history of demonstrating what policies work and don’t work to have a successful life. Maybe you and I can learn some of them to integrate into our lives to make this journey more productive and significant than it is today.

When you make God the central foundation of your life and follow HIS decrees, and your neighbor does likewise, you and they are going to enjoy life the way HE originally intended humanity to experience. God’s way allows each person to experience personal and collective freedom by mutually respecting each other’s boundaries. By building a foundation on the Triune God, and trusting HIS plan for humanity, you and I are now given the privilege to experience HIS same divine grace today.

So, why not put HIM to the test? Or what are you afraid to discover about yourself, others, or HIM?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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