1 Peter 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

We forget, when reading the Bible, that slavery was an unquestioned part of society in those days. We also forget that slavery had nothing to do with race. As has been pointed out by several people I’ve read recently, the very word, slave, comes from Slav, the people of eastern Europe. Various kinds of slavery existed back then, and indeed, do today, even though today it is illegal. The “free men” in this verse means very simply, not slaves. Thus, the only external human authority would be the government. However, where the NIV says “servants of God” here, the Japanese sticks with the Greek and says “slaves of God.” From verse 18 Peter specifically addresses those who had human masters, but the point is that God is our Master, so we are to live to please Him. Actually, Paul touched on this subject quite a few times. One of the clearest is, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13) Again he said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) The freedom we have in Christ is above and beyond anything this world can control, but we must always exercise it in obedience to the law of love. (Romans 13) Jamie Buckingham was persuaded at one point that he had the freedom to indulge in alcohol, and he did for a while. However, before long he realized that not only did he not need it, other people watching him might well be influenced to drink as well, and they might not have the emotional or even biological ability to limit their drinking to appropriate levels, so he quit. That attitude is being obedient to this verse.

I came to the same conclusion as Jamie pretty early on in my life in regards to alcohol. I seem to be well supplied with the enzyme to break down ethanol, but that’s not the point; my drinking wouldn’t be loving to those around me, so I abstain. However, this principle goes far beyond alcohol. I know someone who at one point in their rebellion against their Christian upbringing threw out everything in the Bible except one verse: “‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) They have since returned to a fully dedicated Christian life, but they learned the hard way that indulging the flesh is indeed negative. I don’t need to go through the same things to learn that lesson! I have learned that John was spot on: “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Every one of God’s commands are for our benefit, so being His slave is a joyful thing indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed live in the freedom of Your Spirit, while fully submitted to You. Human words don’t handle that very well, but I ask You to do it in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!