HO HO HO!

Merry Christmas!

I want to talk to you about a best selling book. In fact it is the best selling book of all time. It is such a best seller, they don’t even list it on the best seller lists.

I thought with it being Christmas time, it would be a good time for me to provide some of my thoughts on this book.

Yes, you likely have already guessed I’m speaking of the Bible. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season

Why am I talking about this book on my podcast? A podcast about cars and debt?

These are fair questions. I believe the answer is because I believe the Bible is a rule book and Biblical principles provide a guide for how to live one’s life with the least suffering and pain.

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I didn’t always believe this was true, but the older I get and the more I see of the world, the more I believe this is true.

If you truly want to find wisdom read a Proverb a day for 31 days. Since there are 31 Proverbs, reading one a day for a month is a great move. Read two on the last day of a 30 day month. I think you will see the benefit quickly. I know I did.

If one follows the principles of this book, the Bible, does it mean there will be no pain or suffering in your life? No, we live in a broken world and there will always be pain and suffering here. The question is can following the principles in the book, minimize the self inflicted pain and suffering?

Yes, I believe it can!

The 10 commandments

First Commmandment

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Second Commmandment

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Third Commmandment

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Fourth Commmandment

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Fifth Commmandment

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Sixth Commmandment

“You shall not murder.

Seventh Commmandment

“You shall not commit adultery.

Eighth Commmandment

“You shall not steal.

Ninth Commmandment

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Tenth Commmandment

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor?s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The truth about sin in Matthew 5: 21-48 (New International Version):

Murder

21“ You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,a and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’e 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’f 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.g

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’h 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 4 1If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus set the bar so high only he could achieve it meaning the rest of us, yes all of us – even the most perfect person you know, are imperfect and need Him.

The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:34-40 (New International Version):

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’c 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Tithing Malachi 3:8–10 (New International Version):

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

I hope this episode will help you with the self inflicted wounds we all tend to inflict on our on lives.

Merry Christmas!

Links:

Gateway Church’s Robert Morris: http://gatewaypeople.com/content/about-pastor-robert-morris

Amazon Affiliate Link to The Blessed Life: Unlocking the Rewards of Generous Living

Your Move with Andy Stanley: http://yourmove.is

NewSpring Church’s Perry Noble: https://newspring.cc/pastors

Lakewood Church’s Joel Osteen: http://www.lakewoodchurch.com/pages/new-here/joel-osteen.aspx

Bible Gateway New International Version: https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/

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