Beware of Indulging in Your Freedom

Galatians 5:13-15 ESV
13 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. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Have you ever considered the incredible freedom we have through Christ? When He was crucified He died for all of our sins – past, present and future. Sins put us into bondage: if Christ isn’t known, then bound to death. If Christ is known, we are bound so no growth can occur – choked, as it may be, from our source of nurture. Jesus has freed us.

Verse 13 calls us not to take advantage of this freedom to serve our selfish needs. Let me put that better: our selfish wants and desires. All of our needs are covered. Phil 4:19. What I see from this passage is that when we feed our selfishness we ignore our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we are so obsessed with our wants, needs and desires we probably don’t have time to take care of others.

And verse 15 warns of what that grows into. If we don’t have time to take care of others because we are obsessed with ourselves, how long does it take until we start resenting our brothers and sisters? When does it come to the point that they are a nuisance? Now they are getting in my way of obtaining happiness. If you are obsessed, what do you do to obstacles? You tear them down. You rip them apart. You bite and devour them.

How do you avoid this? Use your freedom to serve others, not yourself.