Back in the days, way back before civilization was
this stable, slavery was a norm. The rich and powerful were well known and they
made good use of the poor. History is not really my favourite subject, but with
the little I know of it, I believe there were so many unfair policies in place
during the previous centuries. The Bible provides several instances where
slavery and oppression are depicted. In Nehemiah’s time for example, the poor
were crying out to him on how the rich were taking advantage of them. The
nobles were exacting usury on the powerless. When it occurred that they were
unable to pay back their debts, they would then sell their sons and daughters
as slaves. Another heartbreaking story is that of the Israelites in Egypt. The
Egyptians decided to turn against their Israelite counterparts, who were
inhabiting their country, because of fear. They subjected the Israelites to
gruesome torture and labour in order to weaken them. In all these instances,
and many others, we see God eventually setting His people free. This, to me,
implies that God cherishes freedom which is why He provided for us a way to
have ultimate freedom through the ultimate sacrifice.
When I look back in time, I always thank God for
the many legends He has used to liberate the oppressed. Most African nations,
and many others, have in one way or another undergone a period of colonialism.
The powerful nations descended on the lesser countries and saw to use them to
their own advantage. However, not all the subjects were ready to just sit down
and bear such kind of treatment. Several revolutions arose in opposition to
colonialism and in a short while, it became history. I was not there to witness
all that they did back then but I sure do appreciate their efforts. A lot of
blood was shed in order to give birth to what we have today and I give God all
the glory. He allowed all that to happen so that those with the ability to
learn can do so. God knows how valuable freedom is and it is why He gave His
one and only Son for us to have it. The days of physical slavery are long gone.
It may still be there but not as spontaneous as it was back then. What we
largely have today is the silent and subtle slavery. The spiritual kind that
many are blind to.
The master is the one who dictates what a slave
must do and the slave, on the other hand, has no choice but to obey all the
master's orders. Disobedience, mostly, leads to untold punishment and torture,
making the slaves to be in total submission to the master. Things, however, may
not be that direct in the spiritual realm. We become slaves to objects and even
people when we cannot do without them. When it comes to objects, they could be,
for instance, technology, money, fame and even fun, among others. All these
are, by no means, evil. However, when you place them as your top priority in
life, then they become your master. Take money for instance, if you prioritize
the search for money as your main goal in life, you will find yourself doing
all it takes to make money. This may in turn make you numb to all else around
you as long as you achieve your goal. This renders you a slave to money.
When it comes to fun, it may seem quite harmless
but it is in real sense that which is leading many astray. We live in a world
where good is seen to be boring, while bad is now fun. Some end up doing stuff
like smoking cigarettes and bhang, engaging in illicit sex and even staunch
alcoholism, all in the name of having fun. The sad part is that all these are
subtly addictive, leaving one a slave to them. Others may justify smoking and
alcoholism in the sense that when taken in small quantities, they are harmless.
My question is how come they end up being so dependent on them. Some assert
that smoking stimulates their minds and alcohol reduces stress. Well, I'd say
God has a better shot at it. He can stimulate your mind and get rid of all your
stress, not just reduce it, without the risk of giving you cancer or causing
you liver cirrhosis. As for your money, it will go to better use.
The people that you love also have the potential
to enslave you. A typical example is when you cannot do anything unless you get
approval from friends or family. This may seem innocent but it is, in fact, a
form of slavery. It is only God who understands the extremes you can reach as
an individual. Therefore, you can do yourself a favour and stop limiting
yourself to the opinions of those around you. Another way you may end up
enslaving yourself to people is by doing all it takes to impress them so that
they can like you. This is wrong. Yes, we should be good to people but that
should not be at the cost of our individuality. Therefore, just be yourself and
focus on impressing the One above.
2nd
Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is freedom.” Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the bondage of
sin. The devil is today using the worldly things to enslave us when we don’t
even realize. 2nd Corinthians
4:4 talks of the god of this age having blinded the unbelievers. Indeed,
the devil is a witty liar. He creeps into our lives and holds us hostage
through the unexpected channels. In order to guarantee your freedom, you need
to let the Lord take full control of your life. Let God be your Master. The
most beautifully ironic thing about being a slave to the laws and statutes of
God is that they in turn set you free. David, in Psalms 19, recognises the
same. Your eyes become open to the boundless limits you can achieve by God’s
amazing grace. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He
will lift you up.” In the worldly view, slavery entails oppression and
torture, however with God, He is a gentle and yet powerful Master. Hebrews 4:15 puts it as, “For we do not have a High Priest who is
unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted
in every way just as we are – yet was
without sin.” Where in this world can you find such a master?
In conclusion, it is easy to succumb to the wrong
kind of spiritual slavery. The pressure to conform to the ways of this world
can lead us there. However, Romans 6:19
gives us solace. It says, “I put this in
human terms, because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to
offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and ever increasing
wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness, leading to Holiness.”
Surrendering your body to God as a living sacrifice is all He needs and He will
do the rest. The Holy Spirit will guide and show you the way.
Galatians
5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not
let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
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