The life for a Christian, at times, doesn't look like a rich life. From the outside looking in, it may seem restricted and boring. It may seem stupid and foolish. Indeed, Jesus said whoever wishes to save his life will lose it (Luke 9:24). Losing one's life doesn't carry much appeal to the culture around us. Yet the path of the gospel is a path of death. A Christian is dead to sin (Romans 6:6-7). Christ himself took this path. He laid down his life for the sake of you and I.

There are tons of commands throughout Scripture. Indeed, sermon after sermon has been preached urging men and women to obey the word of God. Even Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, warned that if men and women built their lives on anything other than his word, it was like building their life on sand. He warns of utter ruin like a house in a storm.