One of the greatest misconceptions people have about a relationship with God is that it is restraining. In reality, it is just the opposite! God love freedom. God created mankind with free moral agency. That means we have the ability to pick and choose what we want to do, believe, and speak. Maybe people get confused because the Bible uses terms such as, Lord, master, and slave in relationship to being connected to God.
Another misconception that people have concerns freedom. Some view freedom as the ability to do whatever they please whenever they please. The problem with this thought is that it will quickly turn to anarchy. If everyone is just doing what they see fit, there is no order, there is no law. There is no security. In order for freedom to be fully enjoyed by all, there must be a standard of behavior that allows all people to be free! Just take look at the book of Judges. Notice some of the vile actions that people performed just because they didn’t adhere to God’s standards,
God never intended for people to rule over other people. Man thought he knew better than God. God’s plan was that mankind would be governed by His word. Because people have free moral agency, some people seized the opportunity to take control of some less assertive people. Sometimes, people even conquered other people “in the name of God.” God put prophets, priests, and judges in place not to be rulers, but to be spiritual guides and leaders in following God’s word. This was not good enough for Israel. They wanted a king because all the other nations had one. To be fair, this is not the only reason. Samuel was old and had appointed his sons as judges over Israel. The problem was that Samuel’s sons were corrupt and perverted justice. They did walk in the way of their father, therefore, they were not walking in the way of God.
Samuel was hurt by this request from his people; he felt they were rejecting him. God assured Samuel it was him they were rejecting but God! God told Samuel to listen to the people and give them a king but pay close attention to what else God told Samuel in I Samuel 8:9-18–9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.” It didn’t matter, Israel still wanted a king. Well, of course everything God said came true and even worse! The king took away the people’s freedom.
Friends, God wants you to be free. That means we live according to God’s word. We love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. We love our neighbor as ourselves. True freedom only comes from God and being obedient to Him. Everything that holds mankind captive is rooted in sin and evil.
God has given us a path to freedom, so the question is do you want to be free? There are always going to be those who relinquish their freedom for power or riches and are a constant slave to sin. There are free to choose that life. Real freedom can only be found in obedience to God and being in a saving relationship with Him!
Read John 8:31-36