Tag: bondage

Freedom Occurs when we operate according to God’s Wisdom

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals2 Comments

The book of Judges ends with the statement: 

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

The same refrain occurs multiple times throughout the book. Judges is meant to highlight how people operate when there is no one to provide direction. In short, when we operate according to our own wisdom, we not only sin against God, but we sin against others as well.

The book of Judges shows us in vivid detail that the positive talk about our ability to manage / govern self is untrue. When we cast off leadership and operate according to our own wisdom, societal breakdown occurs. The liberty we seek does not happen. The only way we are able to live free product lives that result in wealth, safety, and human flourishing is to agree to and live under a collective rule of law enforced by a non-corrupt government. 

We know, not only from God’s Word, but also from human history, that the greatest amount of flourishing occurs when a societies laws and government most closely resemble God’s wisdom put forth in His Word. When we deviate from God’s Word and His wisdom, we push against the fabric of God’s good design for this world. The resulting rebellion is not freedom but bondage. It is not human flourishing but destruction. 

We know this to be true from our own experience. Most of you reading this post use power tools according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. When you do, your home projects are done safely and with relative ease. The opposite is true when you use a tool in the way in which it has not been designed. You might get away with it a time or two, but sooner or later you are going to get hurt.

Freedom occurs when we operate according to God’s wisdom. Destruction results when we operate according to our own wisdom. Don’t reject God’s wisdom for your own. We know what happens. We know the ending. Turn to the Lord, His Word, His wisdom, and experience the flourishing you desperately desire.

Idols can’t save

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PastoralLeave a comment

Near the end of my college career at the beginning of my professional career, I got a credit card. I thought it would be a good way for me to build credit for any future purchases I might need to make like buying a house.

At first, I was good about paying it off. But little by little I began to carry debt on that card. The more debt I amassed the more my monthly payment became. Eventually, I had amassed so much debt I was barely making the monthly interest payment. But I kept on spending.

Now I didn’t let things get too out of control. I was in sales. Whenever I would get a big bonus, I would pay down my debt. Over the years, I would yo-yo between debt and paying it off. Back and forth, back and forth I would go. That is until I met Jen. At the time, Jen was much more financially responsible. She didn’t carry debt on her credit cards. She paid them off every month.

When we got engaged, she told me she wanted me to pay off my debt before we got married. I had to buckle down. I couldn’t keep buying. Racking up the credit card debt. Thankfully, the Lord blessed me with several deals that provided enough bonus money to pay off my debt before we married. Since then, Jen and I have never carried any debt on our credit card. We pay it off at the end of each month.

Reflecting back on my time in debt, the reason I kept spending was that I thought another experience or another possession would satisfy me.“If I just did that or had this, I would be good,” I thought. But nothing ever satisfied, which is why I had so much debt.

Idols can’t deliver on their promises. They can’t provide us with ultimate joy and satisfaction. They can’t save us. God wants us to understand that — Idols can’t save instead they leave us empty. If we hold on to them, if we cling to them, they will eventually lead us to death. Not just physical death, but eternal death.