We use it to hide from conversation, from conflict, from engaging with others. The mode I’ve observed the most recently is using technology. Maybe not all from the same things or in the same way but we do hide. His wisdom can be applied by non-believers and believers alike. When God designed the world and wisdom He didn’t say things will work one way for believers and another for non-believers. We just have to be sure to count the costs and realize that it’s a spiritual battle a much as a temporal one.įYI…this applies to non-believers alike. He was talking about sin and the law but it makes me believe this a wider issue. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (7:15 NIV). The apostle Paul says in Romans “I do not understand what I do. ![]() I think it’s part of our sin nature to not trust God or ourselves. I think the enemy uses our education system to condition us this way. Sounds to me like we’re taught to be employees.Īt the same time, I think the real issue is deeper. We are taught to be at school on time, sit in order, st quietly, and not act up. When we are young we are told we can be anything we want but that notion is soon beat out of us by school, homework, and tests. I don’t know why but I think it has something to do with the way we are conditioned as a culture and as a people. I believe they want to follow their dreams. I believe a great number of people know how to be successful. When it come to success at anything the difference of these two words may be the most important at the end of the day. If you want to change this in your life and start to pursue true freedom, I’d love to help. People around the world come to the United States as the land of opportunity but for most of us who live here, rather than taking advantage of the opportunity we live in bondage, ensuring the true freedom of a select few. It’s time you take back your life and start moving toward the freedom our country allows. We also give them permission to control our time, when we get up, when we go home, etc. Because of our jobs, we give our employer the permission to cap our income which dictates how, when, and if we will be able to retire, how much we’ll be able to spend on Christmas, if we can go on vacation and the quality of that vacation. Yes, I believe that, for most of us, our jobs represent lack of freedom. ![]() A lot of us even owe for our other possessions via credit cards.Īnd then there’s our job. We owe for our house, our car(s), our education, and our furniture. Tobacco is the most obvious but there is also alcohol, sugar, sex, the internet, and so on. In our culture we are held captive my a number of elements. My pondering thought is about personal freedom. Yes we are free as a people to do what we want as long as we don’t interfere with others freedoms or rights (with some possible limitations like marijuana use being illegal but that’s another post). ![]() However, I question the meaning of freedom. I’m proud to live in and represent our nation and its ideals. A day to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. But do we have a responsibility to use these gifts, given the opportunity, with those outside the church as well? Do those of a different, of no, spiritual persuasion have a responsibility to use their abilities to the benefit of others? We all have ways in which we are skilled, gifted, enabled that we can use to serve or enrich the lives of each other. However, his comment drove at something deeper. We’re all supposed to be kind, helpful, compassionate, etc…right? Well, yes there are these overarching general responsibilities we all share. He said he didn’t think we all had the same responsibility to each other. When the question was returned to the original questioner, by a brother who could tell I was stuck, the insight he gave was profound. I felt like I should have a ready answer but I didn’t. ![]() The question, as directed to me: “What is your responsibility to those sitting here at this table?” The context of the question was in church but I am going to broaden it slightly. I want you to consider the same and would love to read your thoughts. I was asked a challenging question yesterday by some one I respect.
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