Never Out Of Style

Exodus 20:1-17 & Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable and sometimes even unhappy you feel when you are around someone whose manners are poor, or where rules or laws are being broken?  That is because good manners and the following of rules and laws are never out of style.  The same is true of our spiritual life.

Although the Bible is thousands of years old, the rules set out before us in that Book have never gone out of style.  Just think what a different world we would live in today if everyone would just follow the Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule!  But…it must start with each of us doing our part.  

We cannot have the attitude that when someone else changes – whether it is our spouse, our child, our friend, our boss, our neighbor – then I will change.  That’s just not how this works.  We have to take responsibility for ourselves.  We must use good manners.  We must follow the commandments and the golden rule.

Is it easy?  No.  But we should seek God’s help.  Make the move.  Take that first step.  Live as God asks.  Remember – “it only takes a spark to get a fire going.”  

We also need to remember that it will never be out of style to be fair in the way we view other people.  We need to be careful about judging them regardless of what their “sin” is and how we view that “sin”.  One sin is not worse than another.  In our earthly minds it may seem so.  It may seem that someone like Hitler is substantially more sinful than a common thief.  However, that just does not compute.  For example, the 5^th commandment says:  “You shall not murder”.  The 6^th commandment says:  “You shall not commit adultery.”  The 7^th commandment says:  “You shall not steal.”  The 8^th commandment says:  “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  

There is a lot of difference between murder, adultery, stealing and lying, isn’t there?  Wait…is there really?  I don’t see God giving any leeway from one to the other.  What it boils down to is that sin is sin – and, we are all sinners.

In Matthew 5:21-22a, Jesus says: “’You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.’”  So, you will be judged for just being angry just as you will be judged for murder.  Going on in 5:27-28 Jesus says: “’You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’”  So, you must guard your eyes and what you allow them to see as much as you guard your body and what you do with your lustful desires.  

Our challenge then is to live our lives righteously, with God’s help – using good manners, following rules and laws and using the utmost caution when judging the actions of others.

Karran Martin – October 14, 2018 / Revised June 6, 2025

Originally posted October 28, 2018