Freedom vs. Love

I was talking with a friend of mine about a situation that happened a few months back. It was a situation of freedoms. I realized, when talking to him, that I may have caused a possibly still lost/maybe new believer to stumble or gave an excuse to not follow Christ because I chose to exercise one of my freedoms. It's not the freedom that is the issue. It's the use of it that may have done damage. My friend shared a wisdom to me found in 1 Corinthians 8 that I have read before but not put into use.

In verse 1, Paul talks about knowledge puffing us up or making us feel important and that love edifies and strengthens the church. I thought I had a wise outlook on this particular situation. Where I went wrong was that I did not use my knowledge in a SELFLESS loving way. I was thinking WWJD but the J stood for James. In reading this truth and meditating on it, I realize that I wasn't thinking about this person or the church. I was thinking about myself.

What stood out to me in this is the word Love. That is the core of what our relationship with Christ is built on. John 3:16 being the first truth. We all are capable of love. Most of us use it. Some for our other's benefit. Some for our own. It is SELFLESS LOVE that God has shown us. It is SELFLESS LOVE that Jesus died for us. It is SELFLESS LOVE that the Holy Spirit tries to teach us. When I think about selfless love it tells me, just as God's word does, that I need to die of myself. It's not an easy task, but very possible and crucial to our Christian lives. We must deny our flesh in order to continue to grow and be rooted in the Truth. This life isn't just about my needs and wants. God has those covered. That it's about the eternal lives of all of us. The reason that God made this ultimate sacrifice for us. There is none greater or more selfless act than that.

Just thinking about using my freedom to possibly cause someone to deny Christ hurts. 1 Corinthians 8:11&12 hits home. My actions, even though they were based on ignorance, could have caused someone to die without any hope of eternal life. It not only is big deal of this person's salvation, but it also is a sin to encourage a believer to do something they feel is wrong. At the time I didn't feel like I was encouraging it at all. I now know that I was. It just goes to show us that ALL of our thoughts, words, and actions affect not only ourselves, but others as well. Affecting someone's life now and for eternity is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. Thankfully my Father knows my heart.

Father, thank you for the SELFLESS LOVE you have for all us. Thank you for your Word and the Truths in it. I also thank you for those Followers of Jesus that you put into my life that help lead me in the right direction. I too want to be one of those people that are an asset to your Kingdom. Father, please continue to reveal to me your Truths and that I would be obedient and disciplined enough for your use to bring other people close to you. When you look into your toolbox to complete a task, that you would look for me. That I would be the dependable instrument to get it done. I love you so much. I thank you for loving me first!

Created over 2 years ago