Free To Serve
Posted by:
Bible Blogger on
February 15, 2007 at
5:43PM EST
Freedom.
What does that word bring to your mind? America, the flag and the
Fourth of July? Perhaps you thought of leaving home and getting your
very first apartment?
Did you ever think of freedom as serving others?
It seems almost like a contradiction in terms to suggest that freedom
is serving. The concept of serving is mostly seen as a kind of
obligation or job. It's a commitment that ties you down and puts
restrictions upon what you do in a day. However, there's a different
way to look at this concept and I want to challenge on that today.
"For you were called to
freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for
the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."" - Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
Now, obviously, the verse isn't telling you that freedom equals
service. The verse basically asks you to turn your freedom to a place
where you're using that freedom to serve your brothers and sisters.
As the verse says, loving your neightbor as yourself.
So what can you do to bring that freedom into service? Take a look at
your church for example. Does the chruch have ministry outreaches that
take place on your days off from work? It's very tempting to just stay
home and play Halo 2 on your Playstation 3 while eating chips off your
chest and you have the freedom to do just that. However, you also have
the freedom to go out and join up with your church to bring the hope of
the world to the world.
What do you think would make you feel more satisfied with your
freedom...or....free time? Sitting at home blasting away at imaginary
space aliens on an imaginary planet using imaginary weapons or handing
a bag of actual groceries in an acutal brown paper bag to an actual
single mother who actually has empty cupboards in the kitchen?
Yes, I'm aware that I'm laying it on a little thick.......or am I? You
don't have to be giving your time to video games. It could be books or
the internet or basketball or American Idol. You have the freedom to
do or see all those things but at the end of the day does it really
make any difference? Was it a good use of your freedom?
Now, I'm not saying you should never take time to enjoy some things. I
know that if there's a NASCAR race or Philadelphia sports event on TV
I'll take a break from life and watch it. However, if I had to choose
between sitting and watching Monday Night Football between Green Bay
and Arizona & collecting bread for homeless folks it's not hard to
get out of the house and help.
So take some time to think about the freedom of your life. Rejoice
that in Jesus we have true freedom from sin and the constraints of the
world. Then think about how you might be able to change your freedom
around to allow for service in that freedom. I think you'll find more
satisfaction and happiness in life and I know those you serve will
appreciate it.
