Why are the ten commandments mostly telling us what not to do? It seems to me there is something missing, the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, the love that lays down its life for a friend.
The very idea that the ten commandments alone are sufficient is a denial of Christ. In the kingdom of God there is more than just a law. There is also a king. So the ten commandments are not supposed to be a complete expression of the will of God. The ten commandments are the verbal revelation, while Christ is the same word made flesh. The positive things you are looking for are in the person of Christ the king, for "the love of Christ constraineth" us.
Why are the ten commandments expressed in negatives (except for remembering the Sabbath and honoring parents)? I think it is because in that way God is able to give us the greatest amount of freedom. The commandments could be positive, as a marked trail on the ice with signs saying "skate here". That would be very limited compared to the negative expression: signs by a few holes in the ice saying "don't skate here". Then we could skate all over most of the lake and enjoy ourselves more than just sticking to a marked path. So it sounds negative, but in fact it is far more positive than positive could ever be.
But really I think the positive you are looking for is found in the ten commandments as well. If we take the Sabbath to make us realize that bosses have limited authority, we learn to relate to people in a truly loving way. If we take the command to work six days seriously, we will find ourselves busy helping others. If we think about whether or not we will be a credit to our father and mother as we make our choices in what to do, doubtless we will find ourselves very close to that golden rule you mentioned.
Related information on our website:
- All Ten Commandments are Found in the New Testament
- What was Abolished by Christ?
- Magnified by Christ
- The End of the Law
- The Perpetuity of the Law
- Righteousness and Life
- Nature of God's Law
