For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:14
The book of Galatians has taught us to embrace our freedom in Christ. We don't need to be bound by legalistic rules and regulations. We can live in gratefulness for what Christ did for us, paying our debt when He died on the cross. We can follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
Yet, Galatians 5:14 gives us pause. For some reason, Paul felt it necessary to caution the Galatians against allow their freedom to interfere with their love for one another. On one hand, you could wonder why freedom and love wouldn't automatically go hand in hand, as in "love freely" and all that.
But freedom is a gift to be stewarded, balanced by, and in fact, even guided by, love. A recent article I read about manners and the “no one else in the world but me” syndrome reveals this very thing. There are lots of things we have freedom to do, but are they couched in love and consideration for others? Consider these possible illustrations of freedom that has not first been filtered through love...all of which I have either done, or experienced with other Christians.
A talkative person dominates all conversations, speaking over other people, interrupting them, and not letting people finish their sentences.
A churchgoer parks in a non-marked spot, potentially blocking traffic flow, rather than parking in clearly marked spot a short walk away.
People have a conversation in the chairs behind me as we try to concentrate on the worship service.
Someone getting up in the middle of the service from near the front and walking out the front of the sanctuary in order to do whatever it is they need to do or walking to their seat from the stage entrance while the pastor is preaching.
Asking a family member a question when they are obviously in the middle of reading, watching a program, or otherwise occupied.
You get the idea. Being a Christian does not mean you won’t sometimes mess up and be rude. But allowing Christ, who lives within us (remember in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ”) to love others through us will help us overcome our selfish tendencies. In all the cases above, the person(s) exercised freedom, but at a cost to relationships with others. Remember Paul's admonition...freedom isn't for us. It’s really to benefit our relationship with God and our community.
So let's turn it around. What are some ways you’ve seen a Christian has exercise freedom in a positive way and blessing others? Share in the comments!
Print This
|
Posts
