The Use of Liberty

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     "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Gal 5:13). Freedom involves responsibilities unknown in slavery. The slave is not required to think for himself. He is not permitted to make personal decisions. His relationship to his fellows is marked off in well defined patterns. Thus, his life soon degenerates into stolid, plodding existence little above that of the beasts of burden. Liberty enforces the need to reason, will and decide. Judgment must be exercised.

     We are free men in Jesus as the result of heaven's emancipation proclamation, ratified and sealed by His blood. We are obligated to exercise our liberty in such a manner as to not injure ourselves or our brethren. The greatest danger to self lies in confusing liberty with license. Spiritual liberty conveys no right to fleshly indulgence. Such use is abuse, and it always provides its own recompence of sorrow. As regards others, liberty is the right to serve, and not the right to demand service. The body does not exist to serve the hand or the eye, but these exist to serve the whole of which they are a part.

     Those who demand service rather than render it, lack the one ingredient which lends meaning and purpose to spiritual existence--love! He who would enslave his brethren to serve his selfish wants, thereby forfeits his own liberty, for he can never be free from expectation or desire, and thus, can never know happiness. Love is the regulator of liberty. If I exist to love and serve my brethren, it will not matter how they act towards me, or what they say about me, or do to me. If I allow myself to cease to love, and become hateful and embittered because of their attitude I do not gain them, but I lose my liberty, and life becomes futile and empty.

     Love expends itself in service toward its object. It does not depend upon reciprocal action. It is not selfish or self-seeking. He loves most who serves most. He is greatest of all who becomes servant of all. One who serves only those who agree with, compliment or endorse him, is wrapped up in himself. No one so wrapped up is free. I love liberty, but I must use my liberty to love, or lose it. I love all of my brethren, because I love God. I do not love them because they agree with me, but because I agree with God. Fear produces bondage; love produces liberty, for "perfect love casteth out fear." Learn to love, and be free!