Freedom with Boundaries

I have spent this week reading through the book of Galatians.  This morning I was in chapter 5 where so many famous verses are located.  Three verses stood out:

"13 For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."  Galatians 5:13-15

We have so much freedom in Christ, but the freedom has boundaries.  What can happen if we are not careful is that our freedom in Christ can become a little to "self-centered".  When it gets to that place, it seems to cross a boundary.   We are called to this freedom and Christ died for it, but the freedom we have is not only about what we want to do, but we have to keep in mind others. In other words, our freedom needs to keep the greater good of the community of faith in mind.

Paul says it is in this way, "do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  We should use our freedom to honor God.  Our freedom is not for the purpose of pleasing our flesh, but to be used through our expression of love - to serve one another.  He then takes it one step further to remind us of the words of Jesus - "Love you neighbor as yourself".  Our freedom is ours, but it is not only about us, it is about loving others and encouraging their faith as well.  At the same time, others should not impose their view of freedom upon us that goes to far, but we as well should not impose our freedom upon them that goes to far.  There is to be a balance both ways - always keeping in mind the idea of loving and serving one another. 

It seems that when our freedom tips to self, the natural result is what Paul writes in verse 15, "But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another".  Self-focused lives usually end up in this way, simply because we are not getting our way in something so we bite and devour others to get what we want, but that is not what freedom in Christ is to be about.

The freedom we have is about the glory of God and honoring him.  Let's enjoy our freedom today that Christ has given us, but let us use this freedom in loving and serving one another as well.