Joy in the Ten Commandments

by Irvine Syazyombo

In every social group, there are certain expectations of behaviour. There are certain ways of doing things that are acceptable. In a class,for example, there are rules. A class monitor will not tolerate noises and other forms of disruptive behaviour..

In a school, there are rules to follow too. For example leaning institutions  could expel pupils for fighting. Schools will not allow beer indulgences   either.

Even countries have ways of regulating citizens’ behaviour. For example, murderers are severely sentenced. All these means of regulation are put in place to ensure the happiness of society.

All the ways of regulating human behaviour derive from the law of God. God wants humanity to be happy. It is only through obeying His commandments that we can be happy(Proverbs 29 : 18).

Just like we live happily at home  by avoiding behaviour which is  unacceptable socially or indirectly following God’s law, we cannot be happy if we break God’s law.

Christ summarized the commandments into two when he talked about loving God and one’s neighbour (Matthew 22;37-40).

The first four commandments are on loving God  and the last six concern loving one another as humans. There is no happiness in breaking any of the commandments. For example if you steal, a mob might lynch you. Adultery leads to three Ds; divorce, disease and death too.

Happiness comes through keeping God’s commandments. It is about keeping all God’s commandments. If you violate any of them, sadness will haunt you. Happy is he who keeps the law(Proverbs 29 ; 18), the ten commandments as given to Moses.If you want joy, find happiness in the law of God.