Freedom and Selfishness
We are called to live a free life and yesterday we talked about some of the things we are free from because of Jesus. Today we will look at how selfishness affects our freedom.
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out -- in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
Gal 5:13-15 The Message
Our gift of freedom is not meant to be used for selfish gain. God gave us freedom so we could decide for ourselves what we want to do and say but the warning here is very clear: selfishness destroys our freedom.
Selfishness takes away our freedom because it is never happy or satisfied with what it does have but is constantly striving for more.
Selfishness infects freedom like a bacterial infection infects our bodies. It narrows our world and destroys our peace.
A life that is selfish runs rough shod over everyone else in order to preserve what little bit it thinks it does have. Being consumed with our own wants and needs leaves no room in our lives to help others.
The opposite of selfishness is generosity and generosity nourishes freedom.
A fellow blogger recently found herself with two Nook ereaders from Barnes and Nobles. Instead of keeping both for herself, she is giving one away (see her blog at: aplaceandaspace.blogspot.com to enter her give away). This is one example of how freedom can be used to bless others.
Since our freedom is a gift, we have to take care of it in order to keep it.
Heidirn
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out -- in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
Gal 5:13-15 The Message
Our gift of freedom is not meant to be used for selfish gain. God gave us freedom so we could decide for ourselves what we want to do and say but the warning here is very clear: selfishness destroys our freedom.
Selfishness takes away our freedom because it is never happy or satisfied with what it does have but is constantly striving for more.
Selfishness infects freedom like a bacterial infection infects our bodies. It narrows our world and destroys our peace.
A life that is selfish runs rough shod over everyone else in order to preserve what little bit it thinks it does have. Being consumed with our own wants and needs leaves no room in our lives to help others.
The opposite of selfishness is generosity and generosity nourishes freedom.
A fellow blogger recently found herself with two Nook ereaders from Barnes and Nobles. Instead of keeping both for herself, she is giving one away (see her blog at: aplaceandaspace.blogspot.com to enter her give away). This is one example of how freedom can be used to bless others.
Since our freedom is a gift, we have to take care of it in order to keep it.
Heidirn
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