I met a
delightful woman named “Momma Charlie,” who has raised a dozen or so foster
kids. These youngsters were assigned to her by the courts, and she gave them a
home with stability, guidance, and love. She told me that every time a new
child arrived, the first order of business was to explain “Momma’s Rules.”
These included behavioral standards, plus chores that would provide much-needed
help in the busy household while teaching accountability to kids with little
previous training.
Some of
the children may have balked at “Momma’s Rules,” thinking they were robbing
them of fun or pleasure—yet nothing would be further from the truth. Those
standards allowed for an orderly household where both Momma and the children
could find life enjoyable and peaceful.
Similarly,
some look at the standards God set forth in the Bible as obstacles that prevent
us from enjoying life. However, the boundaries God places actually protect us
from our worst inclinations and foster healthy responses to Him.
In Ephesians 4, for example, Paul provides some guidance for how we are to live. As we live by these and other loving instructions from God, we find protection and the opportunity for true, lasting joy.
