Slavery or Freedom?

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Although slavery in America was abolished in 1865, many of us choose to remain in slavery even today. Slavery is bondage to a person and can be voluntary or involuntary, but that is not the type of slavery to which I refer. I am speaking of slavery that is a bondage to the things of the world. For people who value freedom as much as Americans do, it amazes me that we choose to allow ourselves to be controlled by the “stuff” and busyness of our lives; yet we steadfastly refuse to submit ourselves to the One who can truly set us free. In Luke 4:18 Jesus proclaims that He has been sent to offer good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and sight to the blind (NIV; references Isaiah 61). II Cor. 3:17 tells us “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” In I Cor. 10, Paul warns believers against idolatry (putting other people or things above God); later in the same chapter, he also refers to the freedom believers in Christ have.  He points out that while we have freedom in Christ, it should not be abused because not everything is good or beneficial to us or the ones watching us walk out our beliefs (v. 23-24).  The older I get and the more time I spend in God’s word, the more I see how much I’ve lived my life in bondage, and I don’t want to do so anymore. I want to be free from the sins that plague my life. I want to be free from the things that control me. I want to be free to serve Him wholeheartedly and unreservedly in whatever capacity He desires for me. I cannot do these things if I am a slave to the world and its “stuff” and busyness. The world entices us to a freedom that is only an illusion. Paul offers encouragement for us to fight for freedom that is true: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Why would we choose slavery?

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