LAWS FOR LIVING. Deuteronomy 22 All across the world, most people live close to others. There is social interaction even in places where people are still hunters and gatherers. There is also an inner desire to possess things and claim them for ourselves. Children say "my coat ... my bed ... my room ... my toys ... my books ... my friends." These things give them a sense of personhood early on. Later in life, we have "my work ... my home ... my family ... my car," which creates a sense of responsibility where human relationships grow. In our spiritual lives, we are aware of "my sin ... my soul ... my need ... my Savior ... my salvation," which make us conscious of God and the moral standards He expects. In communities, we talk about "my neighbor ... my street ... my assembly ... my friends," which fosters a sense of community in daily life.
In any of these areas of life, when we alter the God-ordained state of things, it disrupts peaceful living and can undermine the respect necessary for effective living. To travel and live together for years in the wilderness, the children of Israel needed laws for guidance. These laws were meant to serve as the standards for living in the communities of the promised land.
Whenever we have the chance to show kindness by caring for others, we naturally take it. We have experienced God's kindness and care countless times, and we should demonstrate our gratitude for what God has done for us by showing care and concern for others. Receiving an act of kindness warms our hearts, and performing acts of kindness brings us joy.
In farming communities where animals are kept to support families, it is inevitable that occasionally some animals will get loose and stray. Ownership is not based on where an animal or lost item currently is, but where it usually resides. Keeping what we find for ourselves without making an effort to find the rightful owner is the same as stealing. The game of "finders-keepers" is neither God's way nor in line with the laws of living. Everything we claim as ours comes from God, yet many will never thank Him for what He provides. Others ignore His grace and assume they deserve things they have never earned.
“It is not mine; it belongs to another” is no excuse for not capturing an animal when it gets loose. When anything is injured, and you are there, you are obligated to get involved and do what you can to help the injured person or animal by bringing order into the whole situation. God gave these rules in an ancient time, and righteous living today requires me to act the same in my sphere of life.
If a person takes something that clearly belongs to someone else, they are breaking the laws of living. Respect for others' property is a way to show respect for a neighbor - or, for that matter, a stranger. That law of ownership is ingrained in us so we will care for what has been given by God and allowed us to keep. At the same time, that law also makes us respond as the moral law states, "... and thy neighbor as thyself."
When we practice the law of respect toward others, we will find that we also respect ourselves. Taking something that is not ours diminishes the sense of worth we need. "Stolen waters" may seem sweet for a moment, but when we kill a neighbor's animal and eat its meat as if it were our own, guilt will inevitably follow. There are consequences when we break any law; guilt is usually strongest when we know we have broken a moral law.
Here's what it says: God made us who we are and what we are. Despite human-made laws that some want to adopt for their sinful lifestyles, a man remains a man—regardless of how he dresses or what he may have done to himself. The same applies to women. The transgender culture some people follow does not change a person's genes. People may indulge in distorted thinking about themselves and others, but God's laws for life do not change based on the votes of a government.
Cross-dressing to pretend you are what you are not was an abomination in the past and needed to be stopped. Today, we face a similar problem that is even worse. The government has become involved and has been influenced by sinful people. Society has become accustomed to those who say they’re “gay,” and perversion has now spread from the streets into the church. But it still is not right, and those who do it are cursed.
The confusion of men's and women's roles is an insult to God, who made them in a natural order. Trying to reverse or change that order is to deny, reject, and overlook God’s wisdom and purpose for His created beings. Sexual distinctions are vital for protecting, maintaining, and promoting what God created and intends to continue.
All around us every day and everywhere, the laws of nature are functioning as God intended for our welfare. "Only man is vile." God created everything for our benefit, and He declared it "good." "Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from above." We can respect the laws of nature, and we will be provided for as the Lord intended. Killing the hen that lays the eggs may give us one or two meals for the moment, but it will effectively stop the source of life and the process by which our sustenance is maintained. When greed destroys the fish eggs in the water, we can effectively cut off the source of food that sustains millions of people.
The hunter is wise and does not kill for immediate gratification, targeting only those creatures that reproduce and continue to sustain us. Respect for nature and wildlife is nothing new. Living rightly means taking the long view. I must look ahead and consider what happens when we take from the wild and do not replace it in some way. Soon, all the hills and valleys will be stripped of trees, and the creatures of the wild will disappear if there is no respect for nature as God intended.
Mixed seed in a field can hinder the entire harvest when one type of plant grows taller than the others. A taller plant may block essential light and stunt the growth of a smaller plant that produces food for us. At the same time, both plants draw moisture from the soil, but there may not be enough for the smaller plant to develop full fruit as it should. Similarly, two different kinds of threads may have different tensile strengths. A garment might look nice with two different types of fabric, but this can weaken the overall strength of the garment.
Avoid mixing dissimilar things because of their different strengths, purposes, and the weaknesses caused by uneven parts and yokes. Things have inherent strength based on how God made them. When similar things are joined, their strength can often increase significantly. When dissimilar things are joined, they might look good, be pleasurable, and seem useful, but they can be weakened in some way.
These lessons teach us that God intends for us to live our community, assembly, and personal lives in a way that sustains us and aligns with His unique and perfect plans for our good. When we act independently of God's will and ways, we might gain short-term benefits but face long-term setbacks. Building a guardrail to protect our family and visitors may not be visually attractive, but it is a fundamental rule for safe living. God knows the end from the beginning, and He understands what can happen when people follow their sinful tendencies. Establishing "common sense" laws for how we live, respect for others, ourselves, and nature will greatly improve our lives. An area of our lives where there is too much disrespect is in the interaction between men and women. We are created to procreate and continue the human race. When done as God intends, this process is both pleasurable and meaningful for both men and women. However, when men take advantage of women and abuse the dignity and beauty that God has given them, it destroys the mutual respect that should exist between them.
God has designed relationships between the sexes to function in the best, safest, and most enjoyable way. God's plan for sexual life works well when followed. Taking with unchecked lust from another person what should be freely given defiles the entire personal relationship between two people. What is lost in such a situation can never be recovered.
When a man gives of himself and shares his love for a woman, the best he offers will be received with joy and respect. This not only lays the foundation for a strong relationship but also enhances the woman's desire for her husband through the joy and respect she receives. When a woman gives of herself in a way that is uniquely hers to share, her husband's respect for her becomes so high that he will want to preserve, protect, and defend her with his life. Her joy becomes his goal. Her contentment brings him peace. Her love, when given, is not demanded, but genuine and lasting.
Common sense in simple things greatly impacts preserving life and preventing injury to people and animals. We should never stop seeking ways to protect others from falls when we have the ability to do so. It might be necessary to build a fence or even a wall, especially when I understand that living rightly involves caring for others’ welfare, even if it costs money, time, or seems inconvenient.
God, in His grace, has allowed me over the years to gather some things for work and sometimes for pleasure. Using them wrong or mixing them can create dangers that might not bother me, but could harm someone else. To live righteously, I must be thoughtful about my actions. The flesh is always vulnerable to temptation. It's no different today than when Israel became a nation. Righteous men and women must always be careful because what seems innocent at first can quickly lead to sin. What starts with attraction can become wrong when it risks the life of two people.
Clear rules for living are provided so that life is protected as it should be, and life for both men and women is enjoyable and productive. It will be safe and experienced through trust and respect. Relationships between the sexes, when kept within the guidelines for living, promote peace and harmony in a community, family, and gathering. Forbidden pleasures when people cross the boundaries of biblical sexual conduct damage, belittle, and divide people in ways from which they may never fully recover. God’s rules for living a meaningful life foster strong marriages and children who feel safe and secure. Respect is built and maintained when God's directives are followed and practiced.