SLAVE OR FREE? (1/20)

Slave; a slave is considered as a property of another as the one controlling them purchases them or owns them [Source: Google search]. Freedom, generally, is having the ability to act or change without constraint. Something is “free” if it can change easily and is not constrained in its present state…it is associated with having free will and being without undue or unjust constraints, or enslavement, and is an idea closely related to the concept of liberty. [Source: Wikipedia.org]

The populace today strives, or claims freedom from many things including speech and actions, and there is a constant struggle for freedom. The question is “What is freedom”? Is there such a thing as real freedom? The difficulty that arises from this debate is that freedom for one party brings about slavery for the other.

Conversely, we are all slaves to something or someone. We are slaves to what we do on a regular basis, some of this may be good, but the majority of people become slaves to things that are harmful – physically and spiritually; slaves to our professions allowing no time for family and even more tragic is the slavery to substance abuse, gambling and sex.

The Scriptures teach us that all slavery is related to the sin that each individual inherited when born into this world; that sin controls us and causes us to do all that is contrary to what God expects of us; therefore, there must be some way out of our predicament.

THE PRODIGAL SON <Lk.15:11-24>

 “There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” <Lk.15:11-13 (NIV)>

He went off to a foreign land and squandered his money in the wildest extravagance. He was attracted to a life where there are no standards; the easy life; freedom from rules. A terrible famine arose…. he began to be desperate; he went to work for one of the citizens of that country; an occupation that was totally uncharacteristic to his nature. He got to the point of having to eat of the pigs’ food, no one cared or gave him anything; he became a slave to his circumstances.

“The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” <Prov.5:22-23 (NIV)>

You may say “I am not wicked; I have lived a good life; I am not a slave to anyone or anything”; but here is Jesus’ response: “They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” <Jn.8:33-34 (NIV)> We are a slave by choice to our sinfulness and all that it brings upon us, but as we are taught in the Scriptures, we can make a change – slave or free <see Deut.30:15-16>. “Don’t you realize that you can choose your own master? You can choose sin…. or else obedience……The one to whom you offer yourself, he will take you and be your master and you will be his slave.” <Rom.6:16 (L.L.); 2 Pet.2:19b>.

Then the Prodigal came to his senses, he got up and returned to his father: “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.” <Lk.15:18-20 (NIV)> This is the

choice that each individual person needs to make; we need to turn to God in repentance and seek His forgiveness and pardon from our sins and our sinful ways; and God’s response will be similar to the response of the father in the parable.

The father’s response: “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” <Lk.15:24 (NIV)>. The same response is applicable to any, and all who turn to God and confess their sins, God makes us His child. “You my brother, are not a servant/slave any longer; you are a son. And if you are a son, then you are certainly an heir of God through Christ” <Gal.4:7 (J.B.P.); cf Jn.1:12-13>.