“What are you going to do when you get free?”
This question came to me recently as I was contemplating my life, my finances and new opportunities. As I specifically thought about my finances I thought of the various debts that I owe. Then I began to think about how close I am to finally being able to pay off much of the debt.
With the thought of paying off my debts I began to feel excitement at how much more of my finances would be free. Free to use for a newer vehicle, for starting a business, or whatever I may choose. Just knowing I would be able to freely choose where my money went was a thrilling realization.
Quickly my mind flashed through the years and the choices which had led me to become enslaved to my current debts. I recalled many unwise spontaneous purchases, and recognized my extremely undisciplined choices and desires. Delayed gratification was despised, until delayed gratification was enforced. Enforced by the absence of any financial freedom.
As I recalled the history of decisions, which had led me to the enslaved financial situation I have been in, I thought of how careful I need to be this time. I recognized the excitement within me at the thought of freedom. Oddly, the excitement I felt, at the thought of being free, creates an urge to go “show off” my freedom.
I recognized how easy it would be to take my “freed money” and excitedly, freely, spend it. I thought of how easy it would be to end up right back where I have been; a slave to debt. Then I heard the question, “What are you going to do when you get free?”
Suddenly my thoughts shifted, and I considered how this battle between “slavery and freedom” is much broader than just finances. Being a “slave” to financial debt means that my decisions, my time, and my spending is now controlled by someone other than just me. I may want to use my time and money to be with, and to help underprivileged children; but as a financial slave my time has to go to my job, and the money toward my debts.
I began thinking of other ways we become slaves. Obviously people become slaves in their addictions. Drugs, alcohol and sexual addictions are probably the most common, or at least the easiest to point out. An addiction begins to control what you do with your time, what choices you make, how you think and even how you feel. I believe many of us can also become slaves to fears, to worrying, anxiety, etc.
Of all the possible types of slavery a person may experience, one thing that each person will also experience is a desire to be free. If your in financial slavery, at some point you will really wish you were free. Someone enslaved, addicted, to drugs, sex or alcohol will most likely have moments where they deeply desire to be free. People who suffer from constant anxiety, worry, fear, and whatever other type of slavery you can imagine, want to be free.
The good news is that God also wants us to be free. Even better news than that is, God has given us the ability to be free. You can be free, and will be free. In fact, you probably have been free before. Our problem is that we often walk right back into our own slavery. But, don’t fret. He will free you again.
There’s a scripture that says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” As I look at my approaching day of financial freedom, I am excited. Freedom! Then I recall other times in my life when I had been free. What did I do with that freedom? How, and why, did I become a slave again?
When someone begins to get free from an addiction, why do we often go back to it? I have considered some of my own answers to these questions.
In the past I have wanted to be financially free. Yet, my main reason for wanting to be financially free was because I wanted to have money to spend on my desires of instant gratification. I wanted my money to be free so that I could buy more things that would make me appear wealthy and successful. I didn’t want to be free so that I could remain free. I didn’t want to be free so that I could help others. I wanted financial freedom so that I could gratify my own desires.
When I was on drugs I recall a specific moment when I was praying for God to set me free. Shockingly, the response I heard to my request was, “Why do you want to be free?” The question made me think deeper. What I discovered is that I honestly wanted to be free because I was embarrassed by how I was viewed by people who knew me. I wanted to be free for the selfish purpose of my reputation. I hadn’t previously been aware of my true motives, but God was. He always knows our true motives.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” God sets us free so we can remain free; and so that we can help others be free. In regard to my fiances, I wanted to be free to be selfish. In regard to drugs, I wanted to be free to save my reputation and alleviate humiliation. God and I wanted the same thing, freedom. But “why” I wanted freedom was different from His ”why”.
Perhaps you have something(s) that you want to be free from. Freedom from an addiction, certain emotions, worry, anxiety. The list of things that can enslave us goes on. God shares the same desire for you, freedom. I can assure you, God wants to and will set you free. But perhaps He wants us to not only share His desire for freedom, but to also share the motive of why we want freedom.
God didn’t help free the Hebrews from Egypt until a leader, and a plan were set in place. Moses was met by God and given instructions. Not only was he instructed on the steps of how to get everyone free, but also on what to do afterward. He continued to get instructions on where to go and what to do.
There was a plan. The ultimate plan was that the Hebrews would be freed so that they could be a blessing to all the other nations. They weren’t being set free just for themselves, but also for others. They weren't being set free to just go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted. There were specific reasons for their freedom. Just as there are for yours.
God wants us to be free. We need to see why He wants us to be free. We need to join with His plan and motives. Otherwise we may find ourselves walking right back into our old slavery. God is going to set you free. “What are you going to do when you get free?”
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