WISDOM LIST #23

THE LIST

It is an interesting fact that to present things in a list form, such as a Wisdom List, is a sure-fire way to lose most readers and listeners. There are reasons for this:
1. No one likes lists
2. No one reads lists (carefully)
3. No one likes being told what to do
4. No one listens to lists
5. No one wants to be as organized as a list
6. No one needs another list to go with the other lists
7. No one wants to process step-by-step
8. No one wants to finish reading this list
9. No one wants to live going from #1 to #9

Where this blows us up is when we see an article, book, internet piece, or sermon title that warns us about the content. For example: ‘Five Ways to Train your Dog to be Christian,’ or ‘Six Proven Methods for Growing a Christian Lawn,’ or ‘Four Easy Steps to Overcome Overeating’ and such. The lists have a way of turning us away and causing us to say, ‘I’ll do it my way…because that’s the way I do it, and I don’t need a list to put me in rhythm and order.’

This Wisdom List idea all worked out until I remembered that the Lord decided in Exodus 20 to make a List. He called it the Ten Commandments, or Ten Words, or Ten Sayings. I think the nine reasons given above are why they are resisted by so many. After the List of Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17, we read at the end of the List: “When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” (Exodus 20:18-19)
Thou wouldest be wise to check Thy List carefully.

“You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Jesus