Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 232 - 244.
The basics:
- It is everyone's duty to not only do no injury to your neighbor, not deprive him of gain, and not act unfaithfully toward in business and trade, but also to preserve his property for him and secure his advantage.
- We can see our misfortune in this world when we have sinned against this command. Luther speaks of where we have cheated someone of just one mite, we are found to pay thirty in another way.
- God will not forget His commandments, and those who live against them will be punished.
- We can see God's punishment on those who break this command. No stolen goods or dishonestly acquired possessions thrive.
- Because we ignore this command, God sends us one taxation after another and soldiers who pillage our homes and take our families.
My thoughts today:
If we all spent a little more time preserving our neighbor's property and securing his advantage rather than preserving and securing our own, we might all be a whole lot richer - if not in money, certainly in community.
Our government and the two sides who can't seem to get along could learn something from this commandment, as well. The far extremes either forget the poor or steal from the rich to give to the poor.
Over and over I am reminded through these daily readings that God set up the Ten Commandments for our good. Too often the world and my sinful flesh views them as a big list of rules rather than the love-filled guide they are - a description indeed of the world God created for us.
