A Law Written Upon the Heart

Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Jim Davis adapted this article from an article in World Magazine by Joel Belz, Illustrious Displays: Fiscal fundamentalists. February 2, 2002, pg. 5.

Some think they can improve a person's behavior if they draw up a long enough list of rules--and then work hard to enforce that list. If a person doesn't behave responsibly we tie them up with a list of rules and codes to enforce the correct behavior. The problem is that no one can compile a wise enough list of rules to force people to be good. It takes more than a fundamental checklist, no matter how fanatically the rules are enforced.

What is needed today is a law written upon the heart. Moses wrote, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts" (Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NIV). Nothing carries the clout that is exercised by well-taught people who have God's truth engraved within their souls. When God's law is implanted upon the heart the implications of that law keep pounding away at wandering consciences. 

The Westminster Catechism written in the 1640's encouraged students to learn the Ten Commandments by application of a mind-boggling appendage to each of the commandments. There was a series of questions one should ask about each of the commandments. What all does this commandment require? What all does this commandment forbid?

Question 142 in the famous catechism was, "What are the sins forbidden in the eight commandment, "You shall not steal." Then it states that the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, theft, robbery, man-stealing, and receiving anything that is stolen; fraudulent dealing, false weights and measures, removing land marks, injustice and unfaithfulness in contrasts between man and man, or in matters of trust; oppression, extortion, usury, bribery, vexatious lawsuits, unjust enclosures and depopulations; engrossing commodities to enhance the price; unlawful callings, and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves; covetousness; inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods; distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them; envying at the prosperity of others; as likewise idleness, prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate, and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God has given us."

It is hard to imagine how you could improve on this short course in how to prevent stealing. If you could get this statement straight everything would fall into place. However, for those to encumbered with the fundamental Westminster Catechism rules you might want Jesus' shorter summarized version of the commandments: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12 NIV). 

The difficulty with rules is they prevent us from stashing Jesus' golden rule down deep in our hearts and souls. So remember, if you get tired and bored studying the Westminster Catechism, just allow God to write the principle of all his laws upon your heart, "Love your neighbor as yourself."