Without rules
Before I became a basketball fan, I always made a joke about the sport. Whenever I’d see a live game or on tv, I would always cry out, “Why would two teams of five players fight over one ball just to score a point? Why can’t everyone just have a ball each? No hassle!”
Well, if that’s so, it wouldn’t be a game but a mere play. And there would be no need for rules.
Imagine joining beauty contest without rules, schooling without grades, or driving without the road regulations. It would be a crazy situation. You wouldn’t know what to do next!
Imagine working without paying tax. Oh, this one won’t be a crazy time. It will be great! Or is it?
There can be chaos if rules are not set. Or if there are, what if no one follows them? There’s one word that puts order in anything in the world—discipline. And do you know that it can be a celebration?
Eyebrows rise. How can one have fun with discipline when it automatically gives the impression of “control”, “structure”, “restriction”, “burden” or “legalism”? Isn’t life so stressful already with discipline?
But imagine life without discipline also. Wouldn’t stress be felt a thousand times over?
According to author Valerie Hess, discipline can be a celebration. “It is a way of becoming better disciple of Jesus.”
“Discipline” comes from the root word “disciple”, meaning “follower”. So if we can follow rules, we’re basically being a good follower of the Lord who wants us to be obedient, honest, and just. When we follow rules, we’re like celebrating already our end with God.
You see, if we have the perspective that no matter what happens on earth, we will still end up facing God to account for all what we’ve done in our lives, we will celebrate following rules. It’s called eternal perspective. There is no room for cheaters, swindlers, liars and short-cutters in Heaven. So if we have lived our life obeying the rules of man and of God, it’s a sure route to be with God. Isn’t that a major celebration?
Of course, we still have our daily battles to face. While alive, there’s no stopping challenge. And rules are built-in mechanisms that define our reaction to the challenge.
For example, one challenge is paying taxes. You stop and think: Do I have to pay taxes? Will I get someone to help me “cure” my financial records” to lower tax payments?
You could have circumvented the rules, but you also cut the rope that will bring you next to God after this lifetime.
Think of other areas in our life where we were trying to play without rules.
Have we been overeating and junking the rules for nutrition?
Have we been drinking alcohol excessively that we simply ignored the rules on how to keep our body organs healthy?
Have we bribed anyone just to get away from being caught doing a violation?
Is our credit card on the red because we failed to follow the rules of paying our debts?
Rules are meant to discipline us to follow the road of righteousness. Without rules, we wouldn’t know which is right or wrong, what is a violation or not or simply know the common good.
Rules are also meant to encourage us to live out the values of patience, respect and humility.
I know rules can be hard to follow but if we ask for God’s grace, we can be guided to do the right thing.
Some people say that following rules can’t make us rich. Having “connections” is a faster way to get the wealth we want. Then you find yourself celebrating your power, fame and wealth. But you know that all these are not ours to take forever. They will remain on earth.
What you will only bring before God is your soul. Question is, will God receive your soul? If not, what was your life on earth for? “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”-Matthew 8.36.
It’s not yet too late. Find even just one small step you can take to move yourself back to play the game of life by the rules. One small step is one great leap to salvation.
Just thinking of our next life with God should be able to create a deep well of excitement in our hearts. It’s the same joy that St. Paul kept in his heart as he strove to be a good follower of Jesus. He already looked forward for his reward when he wrote in 2Timothy 4:7 : “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Let’s celebrate the discipline of following rules. Never mind if we’re alone doing it. Let’s finish the race and be ready to join our Maker in Heaven where the ultimate rule reigns: Love.
