Fruit Audit – Are you a Lawbreaker?

I used to be such a lawbreaker. I’m not talking about the big laws, but I was the typical entitled American. You know the kind. I generally obeyed traffic laws but pushed the limits by driving just under 80, not using signals, rolling through stop signs, making left turns over double yellow lines, parking in questionable spots because I was late, and any other area I could manage to justify, like running red lights in the middle of the night because no one was around. Or how about those people who don’t fully claim all their tips or cash payments to the IRS? Who’s going to know, right? What about that time you lied to your friend and used your kid being “sick” as an excuse for not doing something. Or you lied to your spouse about how much you actually spent on your new wardrobe. How about when you take home office supplies from your work? No one will care and they have so much and besides it is the least they can give you for all the crap you put up with.

I mean, really… We are a nation of self-justified and entitled people. No wonder other countries can’t stand us. Do you think God is going to say, “Oh it’s ok, that is just how they were raised.” I don’t think so. In fact, if you take a quick look at the very short list of 10 commandments he has asked us to keep, I am pretty sure you have broken all of them. Haven’t murdered anyone lately? Jesus said if you hate someone it’s the same thing. Haven’t committed adultery? If you are a man, have you looked at any porn in the last few days, or hours? If you are a woman, have you checked out a hot guy and wished your man looked like that? It’s the same thing in Jesus’ mind.

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” – 1 John 2:3-6

If you are interested in digging deeper into each commandment to see how you add up, here they are:
(To see the full text as it was written read Exodus 20.)

God is the only God. (simple… or not if you think God is basically the same god for every religion.)
You shall not worship idols (Like worshiping a TV show or celebrity, or food, or money, or your career, you get the idea.)
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (Like saying OMG or saying “my God” for no reason.)
Take one day a week to rest. Fully. No work at all. (Does anyone really do this command anymore? It is not a joke and is not antiquated.)
Honor your father and mother. (You may no longer be living with your parents and have kids of your own but think about it, do you honor your mom and dad or do you “know better” than they do and often put them “in their place.”)
You shall not murder. (Not a murderer? Think again. Check out Matthew 5:21-22)
You shall not commit adultery. (Even looking at someone with lust is considered adultery from Jesus’ standpoint. Check out Matthew 5:28)
You shall not steal. (I don’t know of a single person who can honestly say they have never stolen anything.)
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (This, like the 10th commandment is not talking about the person who lives next to you. God means anyone you know or even somewhat know. Think in terms of the person you like the least. Stop hating on them and spreading rumors and gossip. Basically, stop lying!)
You shall not covet anything that is your neighbors. (ie. his or her spouse, his or her job, his or her house, his or her car, his or her garden, his or her kids, his or her clothing, his or her hair, seriously the grass is not greener so stop coveting!)