When young people marry, they always want to know why it is necessary to sign a contract. They feel it is unnecessary, because they won’t ever need something like that. They love one another and will never have reason to do something to the other or take something from that person. Their love tanks are full. And that’s the way it will stay … forever …

I was in that space too. I remember one evening when Renata and I went out to dinner in a restaurant before we got married. When we were together, we talked and talked and talked (I suspect she talked more than me, but let me rather not go there …). We watched an older couple sitting at the table next to us and it was so weird to see them sitting there, saying nothing. We immediately said to one another that we would never end up having nothing to say to one another.

But you know what, there have been times when we had nothing to say to one another. There have been times when the air between us was ice-cold and it felt as if our marriage boat was sinking. As the old man said, I’ve never thought of divorce, but murder, yes.

It’s actually bad, but a contract is necessary. Somewhere along the way one of you loses direction, slips over the boundaries of marriage, and suddenly your partner is not good enough anymore. And the one who is left behind now needs that contract to prevent being treated unfairly and ending up on the street with nothing.

In the same way, God’s law is necessary for those times when people play too close to or even across the boundaries of life. The law is actually not necessary for people who do not come close to the boundaries of life. They know how to live right. They don’t need a law to show them where lies right and wrong, because they never come to the wrong side of life.

For whom is the law intended then? ⁹It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever!

These are rough guys. These guys play around with sin and don’t care at all. They have no conscience. They laugh at God and do not value people or life.

The law shouts at these people. And for these guys that is not a positive experience. For them, the law is like the headmaster at school was for me when I had to take that long road to his office again since I had thrown the whole class into chaos. You know you’re going to get a hiding, you only wonder how bad it will be.

Just like a contract is necessary, the law of God is also necessary. When you’re on the wrong side, the contract, like the law, is not your pal. Therefore, we need to make sure we stay on the right side.

Let’s live in a way that makes us never need to dust off that contract. Let’s live in a way that we’re never caught on the wrong side by the law. Let’s live in such a way that God’s remains our friend.

Scripture

1 Timothy 1:8-17

Reflection

How do you feel about God’s law?
Does it come into play sometimes?
Where do you have to live differently?

Prayer

Jesus, thank you that my faith in You has made me righteous. For me Your law is like the railings that keep me from falling down the stairs or off the balcony. My love for You helps me to be obedient to You. Amen.