“What would you do if you won the lottery?” Researchers posed that question to 2500 adults and among the top responses were…
* Purchase an RV
* Have a personal hairdresser {in the RV?}
* Hire a chauffeur {for the RV?}
Yes, ma’am. Thankfully there were a few more altruistic answers sprinkled in as well. But it seems humans have a fondness for spending money on themselves. And very large vehicles.
The tendency to use any kind of freedom we’re given on our own desires isn’t new. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatians, “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” {5:13}.
As we celebrate freedom on the 4th of July, the last phrase in that verse keeps repeating in my mind and heart: Use your freedom to serve one another in love.
We have a lot of freedom in America. Freedom of speech. Freedom to worship. Freedom to do what we believe leads to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” And those freedoms weren’t won in a lottery. They were bought with the blood of soldiers. And the freedom Paul spoke of was bought with the blood of our Savior.
Because we’re human, it’s easy to be selfish with our freedom. So we speak words that tear others down. We worship false idols of fame and pleasure. We pursue whatever we think will make us feel better–and heaven help the person who gets in our way.
So maybe today it’s time to pause and remember the highest, best freedom. Love. Let’s only speak words that make souls stronger. Let’s worship the God who gave everything for us. Let’s stop our pursuits and take time to serve the least of these.
Continue reading with me over at (in)courage…
XOXO,
Holley Gerth
