‘One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. ‘
Proverbs 27:7
Empty Yourself of Worldly Desires – Idolatry
Jesus knew that idolatry was a huge problem. It still is today, and I would argue that it’s mostly the idol of ‘self’ (wanting to be your own god) that prevents so many from following Jesus, not to mention even acknowledging that there is a God. A by-product of this self-idolatry is the desire for limitless freedom. More and more, people view children as a limitation on their own personal freedom. This desire unfortunately has some terrible consequences. The most obvious is abortions. Or less obvious, having children and not changing your destructive lifestyle so you can be a responsible parent. Even less obvious, especially in America, you see the desire for limitless freedom in people who willfully choose to delay having children, putting career and vacations ahead of raising a family. In all three of these cases, there is a common thread. Every one of those people believe that having kids will not just limit their freedom, but they also fear they won’t be able to become whatever their idealized vision is that they have for themselves. I’m not saying we all need to have kids in order to put others first and to not be selfish. Rather, that the desire for limitless freedom at the expense of having children is just a symptom of the ‘me first’ culture that we live in. Jesus had no children and was the complete opposite of selfish. He literally gave everything – He didn’t even have a place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). Instead He spent all of his time mentoring others, healing others and carrying out His Father’s will (not His own). After all of that giving, Jesus gave his life so that we may be saved.
Fill Yourself with God’s Word
Like Jesus, we need to fill ourselves with God’s Word and be focused on others, not on our own selfish desires. If you have kids, raise them. If not, be a role model, a leader, a teacher, a mentor, or a coach. It is so much more fulfilling to give of yourself than to receive. Being inward focused makes you restless, negative, unsatisfied and ungrateful. It’s not an all or nothing state for most people. If you’re not careful, you can end up almost always in a negative, inward focused state — we all know people like this. For most of us, this is a cycle and we have to combat it with God’s Word. Knowing His will for your life and obeying His commands is the best weapon we have against an inward focus. Jesus spoke over and over against the material things of this world. We have to empty ourselves of these things and stop idolizing ourselves so that we don’t ‘loathe the honey from the comb’ that is God’s Word and Will for our lives. God’s will is the only way to live a fulfilling life. It’s meaningless otherwise – see Ecclesiastes 1:2 (all of it really).
Responsibilities Give Us Freedom
Many think that having responsibilities, be it a family, children, a job, a God to serve… or even responsibilities that they themselves don’t get to choose, are obstructive or limiting to their own personal desires or goals. The truth is that it’s these very same “obstructions” or “limitations” that lift us up. They in fact, make us able to do the very things that God wants us to do and do them well. The German philosopher, Immanuel Kant said this about freedom:
“The light dove, in free flight cutting through the air, the resistance of which it feels, could get the idea that it could do even better in airless space.”
Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason
We need the “right” limitations in order to have freedom in Christ. We have to empty ourselves of worldly desires and make room for God’s will. Responsibilities, and the fulfillment of them, not only provide these “right” limitations but also force us to put others first and to glorify God in all that we do.
‘Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ‘
1 Peter 2:16
‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ‘
Galatians 5:13-14
This is true freedom in Christ, that we submit ourselves to God’s will and take on the responsibilities that Christ commanded us to do. It’s a gradual process and happens with the most ordinary things, for instance:
- Love your neighbor as yourself — start with your own family
- Go out into all the world and preach the Gospel — start with those closest to you
- Pray for your enemies and those who persecute you — start with not getting angry when a family member or friend doesn’t meet your expectations
- Trust that in all things, God is working for the good of those that love Him — start by not getting mad when your plans for the day get ruined