Practical Advice for Fewer Problems

Scripture: Every new house must have a guardrail around the edge of the flat rooftop to prevent anyone from falling off and bringing guilt to both the house and its owner. Do not sow other crops in the rows of your vineyard. If you do, both the crops and the grapes shall be confiscated by the priests. Don’t plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together. Don’t wear clothing woven from two kinds of thread: for instance, wool and linen. Deuteronomy 22:8-11

Observation: Intermixed into the middle of other laws - laws about proper dress, virginity, and the honest care of property - are these items. These have nothing to do with morality. Rooftops are used as outdoor living space, so make them so people won't fall off. Intermixing crops, especially vineyards, ruins both crops. If you strap two different size and strength animals to a plow, it won't work. If you sew clothing with a different material, it will actually damage the entire garment due to differing shrinkage and wear.

So ... don't do these things ... so sayeth the Lord!

God is just giving fatherly wisdom. He is teaching us how to live a life with fewer problems. In some cases like these verses, that teaching is clearly practical. Other times, it takes the form of laws, regulations, and moral constraints ... and these may look harsh, involving legal judgments and death-sentence punishments ... but they are still fatherly wisdom, given to teach us how to live life with fewer problems.

Application: How much improved my life would be if I was more obedient to the laws, precepts, and guidance of the Lord. So much of the sadness I carry with me stems from failures in the past, and the sadness is not that I sinned, but just in the memory of resulting pain I experienced as a result.

From topics like the proper way to construct clothing, to premarital sex, God has given advice ... that I have failed to observe too much in life. Even today I know I will do something opposed to his teaching and his wisdom. Yes, part of this is that I am a lesser being with lesser understanding. Yes, part of this is that I am a prideful person who fails to seek advice. Yes, part of this is that I am a fallen human in need of grace and salvation.

However, I can look to God more and more for direction. I can lean into his teaching and his word, and meditate on it day and night. I can move closer to Jesus through frequent prayer and praise. I desire fewer problems, so I will strive to observe my father's good advice.

Prayer: Abba, you are so great and wise. May your kingdom come here on earth, and may I help to make that so by living in a manner that better aligns to your good advice. You love me so much, you took the time to teach me. Thank you. Amen.