The 10 Commandments: Too Restrictive and Hindering Success?

Once, I saw a child crying because he was not allowed to play ball outside the fence of his house. He thought his parents were limiting his freedom to play. Yet if he could only see farther, he would realize: the fence was actually protecting him from passing vehicles that could put him in danger. That child’s attitude reminded me that sometimes Christians feel constrained by the existence of the 10 Commandments.

If you feel that the 10 Commandments make it harder for you to advance in your career or achieve your dreams, you are not alone. But I invite you to look far beyond that ‘fence.’ Let us examine the benefits of the 10 Commandments in our lives.

Eight “Do Nots” in the 10 Commandments

There is an opinion that parenting in the ‘ modern’ era tends to give children a lot of freedom. This is no longer the time to keep feeding them with “don’ts,” because the more they are forbidden, the more curious they become to try. Rather than forbidding, it is better to explain. “If you play with fire, your hand could get burned. Playing with knives could injure you.” By reducing the number of “don’ts,” the potential for children to rebel will decrease.

So, does this psychological factor have anything to do with Christians’ tendency to rebel against the 10 Commandments?

Indeed, eight of the 10 Commandments begin with the words “do not” (Exodus 20:3-17). Yet it may be that all those “do nots” were deliberately included because the Lord knows the human heart, which tends toward sin. Adam and Eve are clear proof; they were forbidden to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, yet that was exactly what they did.

Some people think that Christian life is not enjoyable, rigid, and full of rules. It seems impossible to fulfill our dreams if we follow all the boundaries in the 10 Commandments of the Lord..

How can we enjoy life, achieve success, or grow a business, if every little thing is met with “do not”? This and that are forbidden. Ah, after all, we still live in the world; the Lord surely understands. Perhaps that is our self-defense.

Regardless of how many prohibitions there are, the Bible proves that those who obey God’s word receive relief. On the other hand, those who resist will face trouble. The Lord cares so deeply for us that His commands are not merely restrictive, but also protect us from harmful consequences.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord . – Romans 6:23

Balanced Living in the Lord

The Lord governs how we relate to Him and to others so that we may enjoy a balanced life. Let us not be busy worshiping yet forget to put the word into practice. Or, on the other hand, be diligent in pursuing good deeds while forgetting the Lord..

This is why Jesus summarized the 10 Commandments into two commandments of equal importance:

“Loveilah the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And the second is this: Loveyour neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." – Mark 12:30-31

The essence of commandments 1-4 (Exodus 20:3-11, the vertical relationship) is to love the Lord with all our heart. He alone is worthy to receive worship in our hearts and lives.

When other gods become false givers of hope, the Lord always gives true hope. The wicked may seem more successful, but we need not envy them because their happiness is only an illusion (Psalm 37:7). How many lie on soft beds in luxurious rooms, yet struggle to sleep because they are haunted by fear? But those who worship the Lord will live in peace.

In the fear of the Lord there is great peace, and even protection for His children. – Mark 12:30-31

The essence of commandments 5-10 (Exodus 20:12-17, the horizontal relationship) is to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is just as important as the first commandment.

The balance of these two commandments is meant to help us have lives of quality, peace, and freedom from conflict. The Lord wants His children to live in beautiful harmony.

For God has given us not a spirit of fear, but a spirit that awakens power, love and self-discipline.  – 2 Timothy 1:7

Protecting and Making Things Easier

A company usually looks for employees or business partners who are honest, disciplined, and full of integrity. And who better fits those criteria than those who fear the Lord? People who align their lives with God’s word will have good integrity in the eyes of others.

So, the assumption that the 10 Commandments are burdensome and make it harder for us to achieve success is simply not true. Obeying the commands of the Lord is actually the first victory in building a successful career on His track, as long as we are willing to learn to see and value everything through the perspective of the Lord..

Let us grow from being a child who cries behind the fence into a child who obeys his parents. All because we believe the Father’s rules are made for our good and our safety. Look farther, and give thanks!