Posted by
peripheral on Friday, February 20, 2009 9:30:38 AM
From My Perspective - - -
All of us are familiar with
“Lists”! There is the List of items needed from the store; things that need
one’s attention more immediately than not; bills that have to be paid;
appointments that need to be kept; school assignments and test schedules;
people who should be written or called; etc. When we approach Christmas-Time we
are reminded in the song: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” – that – “he’s making
a list and checking it twice, he’s gonna’ find out whose been naughty or nice…”
Every year, Forbes publishes a list of the richest Americans.
At the top of that list is Bill Gates of Microsoft, followed by Warren Buffet.
Four of the Top Ten are Waltons who are heirs of the Wal-Mart empire. In terms
of politics, C-Span developed a recent listing of the Top Best and Worst
Presidents of the United
States. Abraham Lincoln was ranked the best.
George Washington was second, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore
Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. Ronald Reagan was 10th. Bill
Clinton was 15th. The survey graded each president on a scale of one ("not
effective") to ten ("very effective"). The bottom five were:
James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, William H. Harrison and Warren
G. Harding. George W. Bush was 36th on the list. His dad was 18th. Such
listings are subjective and will vary as time passes.
The United
States Constitution is a statement regarding
how this nation is to be governed. Attached to that Constitution are 27
Amendments that make stipulations and guarantee freedoms and rights. It makes
this a land of law and order. “In the United
States, the law is derived from four
sources. These four sources are constitutional
law, statutory law,
administrative regulations, and the common law (which includes case law). The most important source of law
is the United States
Constitution. All other law falls under, and is subordinate to, that
document. No law may contradict the Constitution. For example, if Congress
enacts a statute that conflicts with the Constitution, the Supreme
Court may find that law unconstitutional, and declare it invalid.”
When
we come to human behavior, we tend to relegate it to the Ethical norms. “Ethics
refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in
the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents,
children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, etc.” Ethics is
not the same as feelings. Feelings provide important information for our
ethical choices. Ethics is not religion. Many people are not religious, but
ethics applies to everyone. Most religions do advocate high ethical standards
but sometimes do not address all the types of problems we face. Ethics is not
following the law. A good system of law does incorporate many ethical
standards, but law can deviate from what is ethical. Ethics is not following
culturally accepted norms. Some cultures are quite ethical, but others become
corrupt. Ethics is not science. Social and natural science can provide
important data to help us make better ethical choices. But science alone does
not tell us what we ought to do.
Consider these things with me - - - God gave His people the
Ten Commandments that instructed them what they were to believe about God and
what duties God required of man. In like manner, God gave man the Fruit of the
Spirit that was to serve to develop positive Christian Behaviors for all of
one’s interactions. It fits within the framework of what Paul wrote Timothy - "Be an example for the believers in speech, in
life, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12); and "Do
your best to present yourself to God as a workman who is approved…who does not
need be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Making a list and following it is NOT the desired goal, whereas making a
Commitment to Christ and His Word IS the goal. Effectiveness in touching the
lives of others will flow out from the level of Commitment one has made to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Our Goal is to Know Him and to Make Him Known. As we do so,
we will please and honor Him!