By David ReayTuesday 17 May 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. (NLT)
We sometimes hear that “freedom” is an all-important virtue. But freedom is like a two-edged sword. Paul is reminding his readers in Corinth that while they may in practice be free to do as they please, exercising this freedom may harm them. They may become slaves to whatever their “freedom” urges them to do or think.
The key question for any of us is not whether we are free to do this or that. The issue is whether doing this or that will benefit us and others. Just because I am free to walk out on my family and church obligations does not mean that doing so would be good and right.
When God made us, he made us free to either embrace him or turn our backs on him. He did not make us machines or robots. He wanted to have a loving relationship with us and that could only happen if we were free to offer such love. And we could only offer such love if we could at the same time refrain from such an offer.
God will not use his great power to force us to do the right thing. He will not coerce us into using our freedom rightly. In his great desire for us to enter into loving relationship with him, he restrains his power which might demand such a relationship. But in doing so, he allows us to use our freedom wisely.
Human freedom opens the door to rebellion and folly. It also opens the door to grace and love.
Blessings,
David