CD - The Fifth Commandment - Ephesians 4:32

What is the value of human life? If we believe in the theory of evolution then we believe that human life is only an accident and is worth nothing, really. If we believe the theory of Creation, that God thought out, planned and created the world then we believe that human life is valuable because God gives us value.

The question our world has dealt with a lot in recent years has been the question of when does life begin. Holy Scripture appears to be silent on the issue, yet our Lord gives us clues as to when He begins life. In Jeremiah we are told, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). Evidently we are a person and have value, thus we have life, even before we are conceived. Our conception begins when we are thought of by God.

Luke the historian, theologian and doctor tells us concerning John the Baptist when Mary comes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41). The word baby is used for babies both before and after birth, implying that an unborn child is a human person.

The Psalmist, David, tells us, “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:6). David was confident that he was someone, someone special because the Lord knew him even before he was born.

The fifth commandment reminds us that God gives to us the gift of life. He tells us that we are not to murder by hurting or harming our neighbor. We are not to hurt or harm our neighbor emotionally, spiritually or physically. No name calling, playing of tricks, hitting, or hating.

The fifth commandment also tells us what we get to do for our neighbor. We get to help him. We get to support him. We get to care for and love him. Paul reminds us in Romans, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20). In the parable of the good Samaritan we are reminded that everyone, especially those who are in need, are our neighbor.

Being kind, merciful, forgiving, those are things that we as Christians are privileged to do. In our world today we would include such things as avoiding and helping our neighbor to avoid the abuse of drugs or any substance that would be hurtful to them. We would look for ways to help and be of service to our neighbor. We would, in fact and in essence, do those things which society would ask, why are you doing what you are doing. And we would respond that because our Lord loved our neighbor so much that He gave His life for him on the cross, who are we to love our neighbor any less, so we want to help and be of service to our neighbor however we can.

Dear Lord, forgive me when I forget that You love me and that You love others as well. Forgive me when I get jealous and envious of my neighbor because he has something I want. Stir in me a desire and the ability by the power of your Holy Spirit to be of help and service to my neighbor. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.