"Responsible Free Will"

“Responsible Free Will”

A few years ago Karen and I were part of a Home Bible Study which was preceded by a pot-luck supper. One husband and wife who attended consistently made minimal contributions to the meal. So when plans were being made for a summer barbeque the hosts assigned menu items and this couple was asked to provide hamburger patties. When he heard this the husband said, “No one’s telling me what to bring!” and they didn’t come to the gathering. (Did I mention he had a control streak?) We’ve lost track of this couple following our move but I sometimes wonder about “the rest of the story” of their lives.

This man is an example of people who refuse to listen or do what they don’t want to. Some even take the attitude that “God (if He exists) isn’t going to boss me around!” I can’t help but think that a few who say this have also asked derisively, “Why didn’t God stop 9-11? Or the Orlando shootings? Or the Nice truck attack?” My response is if they don’t want God to direct their own actions how can they say He should with others’?

God has created us with a free will to make our own choices. Some are good (“…As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord…Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him….”—Joshua 24:15,31) and others bad (“…Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all…because all sinned….”—Romans 5:12) but as seen in these Scriptures using our free will can have far-reaching impact. Because of this God instructs us to exercise our freedom responsibly and not selfishly when He says through the Apostle Paul, “…Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13). Perhaps this is another way of stating Jesus’ “Golden Rule” (“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you….”—Matthew 7:12).

Solomon warns us that “…the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.” (Proverbs 28:14, NLT). When we’re determined to do our own thing he has another warning which he states twice: “There is a way that seems right to a man (or woman), but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). But thankfully he also says, “…Blessed are those who keep (God’s) ways.” (Proverbs 8:32). The choice seems obvious—will I make the right one? Will you?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan