I remember back to the days I was marketing and building my Certified Public Accounting practice in Houston, Texas. There was a reference book titled “Book of Lists”. There was a book of banks, a book of investment firms, and a list that shocked me, a list of CPA firms. Why were there so many? Lists everywhere of all kinds of things. Top twenty-five football teams. List of Fortune 500 companies. List of the richest people in the world. The lists go on and on. I started thinking what does this all mean; is there anyone interested in this kind of stuff?
My thoughts went to the lists in the Holy Scriptures:
- Ten Commandments.
- The Gifts of the Spirit
- Qualities of a Maturing Christian
These lists were inspired by God. We would be wise to read each list, be interested in them and heed each one.
The early church believers were inspired to write two major lists on spirituality:
The seven sins – pride, envy, anger, slothfulness, avarice, gluttony, lust
The seven virtues – wisdom, justice, courage, temperance, faith, love, hope
Mahatma Gandhi created his own list. His life was not centered on Jesus Christ.
Seven deadly sins:
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Knowledge without character
Commerce without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
Politics without principle
Gandhi’s list deserves deep thought. Be the best you. Live an inspiring life with purpose serving others.
Kenneth Robert O'Neal 