Freedom Means We Become So Totally Free of Self Indulgence That We Become Servants of One Another, Expressing Love In All We Do
Freedom means we become so totally free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do. And this freedom is not something we achieve at some point in the future but rather a present reality when we are born again and again by hearing, receiving, and abiding in the Word of God. The Apostle Paul was a man obsessed with this kind of freedom. He wrote in his letter to the Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… Stand firm, therefore, and do not let yourselves again be subject to a yoke of slavery…” In other words, Paul did not want Christians to become enslaved again to false ideas about God or any other master or authority figure outside of Christ. Instead, he wanted them to remain free so that they could be slaves no longer—but servants who express love in all they do.
Galatians 5:13-14 in context.
The preceding verses (vv. 9-12) address the problem of false teachers who teach that we can be saved by works of the Law of Moses, such as keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws, and circumcision. Paul says that we are saved by faith in Christ alone and not by these works of the Law. Faith alone, not circumcision, is the mark of the faithful Jew. For Paul, the decisive issue is freedom from the tyranny of the false teachers and their enslaving legalism and freedom from the Old Testament dietary laws, the Sabbath, and circumcision. The following verses (vv. 13-14) address the issue of freedom from slavery to all forms of self-indulgence.
Freedom to Serve Is a Present Reality for Those Who Hear, Receive, and Abide in the Word of God
We are free to serve one another because we are free in Christ to hear, receive, and abide in the word of God. We no longer serve our own interests or those of others out of guilt or obligation. Instead, we serve others out of love and an abiding desire to see God’s will done in and through us. We are no longer just receivers of God’s grace but vessels through which grace flows to others. This is the experience of freedom Paul longed for his fellow Christians. And it is also the experience that he longed for himself. For example, in the first chapter of his letter to the Corinthians, he says, “We destroy arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” In other words, Paul wants his fellow Christians to receive the divine word so that it will take hold in their hearts and minds, bringing about a profound change in their lives that will be evident to others. This is the mark of a faithful Christian whose life is transformed by the word of God.
Becoming a Servant Means Giving of Ourselves Without Reckoning
Paul’s emphasis on servants who give of themselves without reckoning is consistent with this notion of becoming a vessel for the divine word that transforms us. Reflecting on the example of Jesus, he writes: For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. And this word “Once more” indicates the removing of what is shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. And so, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer worship pleasing to God in reverence, with a purity of conscience, and of the Holy Spirit!
Serving Creates Humble Servants Without Pride or Preference for Any Person or Group
To become a servant, Paul suggests, is to become humble and to give of ourselves freely and without preference to any person or group. In fact, Paul’s consistent emphasis on humility and service to others was a source of tension with the Corinthians. They were more focused on developing their gifts and ministries in the church. On the other hand, Paul was more concerned with building up and serving others.
Serving Is Expressing Love in Action Regardless of the Outcome
Servants don’t demand gratitude or an acknowledgment of their service or efforts. They simply do what they do out of love, knowing that God is the one who will receive the credit and praise. For example, in his letter to the Romans, Paul says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Let us rather be compassionate, courteous, and humble.”
Amen! Thank you Bruce, and God Bless! 💜🙏🏻