Literally?!
By Susan Klein
“Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
While visiting a friend with two toddlers, I watched her older
toddler push the younger one down. She encouraged him to say, “I’m sorry,” and
then give his brother a hug. He obediently and immediately followed both
instructions. She then recalled a time that he had toppled his brother on the
kitchen floor. She had wisely instructed him to not push his brother down on
the bare floor because it could hurt, as evidenced by his cries. Not long
after, she heard her one-year-old whimpering in the carpeted living room. Her
older toddler was quick to announce, “I didn’t push him down on the kitchen
floor, and I said ‘I’m sorry’ and hugged him!”
The literal interpretation of her message had been
followed to a “T,” but the behavior was still amiss.
As adults, how often do we repeat this very behavior with our
heavenly Father? He might instruct us to show kindness to a difficult person.
And then we do it - - once - - out of obedience. Then we walk away feeling
justified and do our best to avoid any further contact with that hard-to-love
person. Or maybe God is convicting us about our own negative attitude? We
decide to make an extra effort to be more positive and grateful. We’re
intentional in front of others, but at home we are quick to verbally let loose
with our irritations and displeasures. Our inner-toddlers come out!
One of God’s commands is: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or
any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water
under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). I can honestly say I’ve never literally
carved an image or made a statue to worship. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say
that there have been times in my life when I’ve figuratively made idols out of
things. Anytime I’ve placed more importance on people or things than on God,
I’ve made an idol. Thankfully, He has been paternal in pointing these out to
me.
There really is just one instruction we need to heed literally:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind,” and, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39b). Not
just sometimes, not just select people, not just when the mood strikes
us…always. If we take a “literal” approach to following this one
command, it will encompass all others.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Spend time with your Father asking Him to show you any
“literal” behaviors that might need adjusting.
FURTHER READING:
Susan
is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible
studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of
the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads a small group.
